Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Flowing abundantly, spilling profusely: Describes a liquid that is overflowing, spilling, or spreading out in a generous, uncontained manner.
   • Brimming, overflowing (with emotion): Describes a state where feelings, inspiration, or sentiment are so full and intense that they seem to overflow.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Literal - Liquid):

  • Nước mắt cô ấy chảy lai láng. (Her tears flowed profusely.)
  • Dầu từ chiếc thùng bị thủng chảy lai láng trên sàn. (Oil from the punctured barrel spilled profusely on the floor.)

• Adjective (Figurative - Emotion/Inspiration):

  • Trái tim anh ấy lai láng tình yêu thương. (His heart is brimming with love.)
  • Nhà thơ viết trong tâm trạng lai láng cảm xúc. (The poet wrote in a state of overflowing emotion.)

Advanced Usage

• "Lòng lai láng": A brimming/overflowing heart (with a specified feeling).

  • Lòng bà lai láng niềm thương nhớ quê hương. (Her heart was brimming with nostalgia for her homeland.)

• "Lai láng tình đời": Overflowing with worldly compassion/experience.

  • Tác phẩm của ông lai láng tình đời. (His works overflow with worldly compassion.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chan chứa (adj): Also means "brimming, full to overflowing," often used for emotions. It is a very close synonym in figurative contexts.

  • Đôi mắt chan chứa yêu thương. (Eyes brimming with love.)

• Tràn trề (adj): Abundant, plentiful, overflowing. Can be used for both tangible things (water) and intangible things (energy, happiness).

  • Năng lượng tràn trề. (Abundant energy.)

• Trào dâng (verb): To surge, to well up (often for emotions).

  • Cảm xúc trào dâng. (Emotions welled up.)

Synonyms

• Dạt dào (adj): Surging, abundant (usually for emotions or natural phenomena like waves).
• Ào ạt (adj): Pouring, flowing vigorously and in large quantities.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Lai láng như nước": (Flowing/spilling like water) Used to emphasize the abundant, unstoppable nature of something, often tears or speech.

  • Nước mắt cô ấy tuôn rơi lai láng như nước. (Her tears fell, flowing like water.)

• "Lời nói lai láng": (Words flowing profusely) Describes someone speaking eloquently, fluently, and at length.

  • Với lời nói lai láng, ông thuyết phục được mọi người. (With his fluent, eloquent speech, he persuaded everyone.)

1. Spill profusely
   • Rượu chảy lai láng trên bàn
     Wine spilled profusely on the table
2. Burst with (some feeling)
   • Hồn thơ lai láng
     To burst with poetic inspiration