Definition

1. Verb:

   • To pretend not to know/see/hear; to ignore deliberately; to feign ignorance. This is the most common usage. It describes the intentional act of acting as if one is unaware of a person, a fact, or a situation, often to avoid interaction or responsibility.
   • To let (something) fade; to disregard; to act as if forgotten. Used for intentionally neglecting or acting as if an old matter, memory, or obligation no longer exists.

2. Adjective:

   • Murky; dull; tarnished; not clear or bright. Describes water that is slightly cloudy or opaque, or a mirror/surface that has lost its shine and clarity.

3. Noun:

   • A type of fish trap. A conical or funnel-shaped trap, traditionally woven from bamboo or rattan, used to catch fish or shrimp in still waters.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Tôi gọi nó mà nó lờ đi. (I called him, but he pretended not to hear.)
  • Anh ấy có món nợ cũ nhưng cứ lờ đi. (He has an old debt but just keeps ignoring it.)
  • Cô ấy thấy tôi nhưng cố tình lờ mặt đi. (She saw me but deliberately pretended not to see me.)

• Adjective:

  • Nước hồ trông lờ lờ vì có nhiều phù sa. (The lake water looks murky because it has a lot of silt.)
  • Chiếc gương cũ đã lờ mờ. (The old mirror has become tarnished/dull.)

• Noun:

  • Ngư dân đặt lờ dưới lòng sông để bắt tôm. (The fisherman placed a fish trap on the riverbed to catch shrimp.)

Advanced Usage

• "Lờ đi": A very common phrasal verb meaning "to ignore (something/someone); to brush aside; to pay no attention to."
  • Hãy lờ đi những lời bình phẩm tiêu cực. (Just ignore the negative comments.)
• "Lờ mờ": An adjective meaning "dim; faint; vague; unclear." It can refer to light, understanding, or memories.
  • Ánh sáng lờ mờ trong căn phòng. (The dim light in the room.)
  • Tôi chỉ còn nhớ lờ mờ về sự việc đó. (I only have a vague memory of that event.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lảng (v): to avoid, to dodge (often by physically moving away or changing the subject). It shares the sense of avoidance with "lờ" but can be more active.
• Giả vờ (v): to pretend. This is a more general term for pretense, while "lờ" is specifically pretending to perceive.
• Đục (adj): turbid, muddy (for liquids). Stronger and less subtle than "lờ" (adj).

Synonyms

• Verb: Ignore, disregard, overlook, feign ignorance, turn a blind eye to.
• Adjective: Murky, cloudy, turbid, dull, tarnished.
• Noun: Fish trap, weir, creel.

Related Idioms

• Lờ đi như không biết: To act completely oblivious, as if one knows nothing at all.
  • Dù nghe thấy hết nhưng nó vẫn lờ đi như không biết. (Even though he heard everything, he still acted as if he knew nothing.)
• Nước lờ lờ: Describes water that is neither clear nor completely muddy; murky water.
  • Con kênh đầy nước lờ lờ. (The canal is full of murky water.)

verb

1. to pretend not to know; to cut