le lé
Definition
- Adjective:
- Slightly cross-eyed or having a minor squint: Describes a condition where the eyes are not perfectly aligned, often with one eye turning slightly inward or outward. It typically implies a mild or subtle misalignment rather than a severe strabismus.
- Having a sidelong or askance glance: Can describe a way of looking that is not direct, often due to the eye condition or implying a suspicious, shy, or indirect manner of looking.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cậu bé ấy hơi le lé. (That boy is slightly cross-eyed.)
- Cô ấy nhìn le lé về phía người lạ. (She glanced askance at the stranger.)
- Anh ta có đôi mắt le lé từ nhỏ. (He has had slightly misaligned eyes since childhood.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used to describe a physical trait in a descriptive, sometimes gentle or colloquial manner, rather than as a harsh medical term. It can carry a neutral or slightly endearing tone depending on context.
Variants and Related Words
- Lé (adj): A more standard and common term for "cross-eyed" or "squinting." "Le lé" is often considered a variant or a more colloquial reduplication of "lé."
- Ông cụ bị lé một mắt. (The old man is cross-eyed in one eye.)
Synonyms
- Cross-eyed: Having eyes that turn inward toward the nose.
- Squinting: Partly closing one's eyes or having eyes that are not aligned.
- Askance glance: A look of suspicion or indirect gaze.
Related Idioms and Expressions
- Mắt le lé: A descriptive phrase meaning "le lé eyes."
- Cô bé có đôi mắt le lé dễ thương. (The little girl has cute, slightly cross-eyed eyes.)