Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Decrepit; very old and frail: Describes a person, typically elderly, who is extremely aged, weak, and bent with age, often moving with difficulty.
   • Rickety; broken-down: Can describe an object that is old, shaky, and in poor condition, though this usage is less common.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ông cụ bước đi lọm khọm trên con đường làng. (The old man walked decrepitly down the village road.)
  • Chiếc ghế lọm khọm đó sắp gãy rồi. (That rickety chair is about to break.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "lọm khọm" is often used in a descriptive, somewhat vivid or literary context to paint a clear image of advanced physical decline due to age. It carries a stronger connotation of physical fragility than simply "già" (old).

Variants and Related Words

• Lom khom (adj): This is a common variant with the same meaning, describing a stooped or bent-over posture, often due to age or carrying a heavy load.
  • Bà lão lom khom nhặt rau. (The old woman stooped over to pick vegetables.)

Synonyms

• Decrepit: Worn out or ruined because of age or neglect.
• Feeble: Weak, especially due to age or illness.
• Rickety: Weak in the joints and likely to break.
• Frailty: The condition of being weak and delicate.

Related Idioms

• While "lọm khọm" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is commonly used in descriptive phrases like "già lọm khọm" (decrepit with age) to emphasize extreme old age and frailty.