Definition

Adverb: - Along; along behind: Describes the action of following someone closely and persistently, often with effort, at a slow but steady pace, without leaving their side. It implies a sense of dogged, sometimes weary, pursuit or accompaniment.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Đứa trẻ lẽo đẽo theo mẹ lên tận chợ huyện chơi. (The child tagged along behind its mother all the way to the district market to play.)
  • Cậu bé cứ lẽo đẽo theo đoàn quân để xem diễn tập. (The boy kept trudging along after the army troop to watch the drills.)
  • Chị Dậu dẫn con lẽo đẽo dưới ánh nắng mùa hè. (Chi Dau led her child, plodding along behind her under the summer sun.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often carries a connotation of slight burden, reluctance, or tiresome persistence, either for the person following or as perceived by the person being followed. It paints a vivid picture of a follower who is determined but perhaps struggling to keep up.

Variants and Related Words

• Lẽo đẽo theo (v): to tag along, to follow persistently.
  • Nó cứ lẽo đẽo theo tôi suốt cả ngày. (It just tagged along after me the whole day.)

Synonyms

• Tag along: to follow someone, especially when not explicitly invited.
• Trail along/behind: to follow slowly, often at a distance.
• Plod along: to walk slowly with heavy steps, especially because of exhaustion.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Lẽo đẽo như bóng với hình: To follow as closely as a shadow follows a body; to stick to someone like a shadow.
  • Đứa em nhỏ lẽo đẽo theo chị như bóng với hình. (The little sibling followed the older sister as closely as a shadow.)

1. along ; along behind