lem nhem
Definition
- Adjective:
- Smudged, smeared, messy: Describes something that is dirty, stained, or blurred, often due to ink, paint, or dirt spreading unintentionally, making it unclear or untidy.
- Sloppy, illegible: Refers to writing or drawing that is careless, scribbled, or poorly executed, resulting in a messy appearance.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Trang vở của em bé bị lem nhem mực. (The child's notebook page is smudged with ink.)
- Chữ viết tay của anh ấy rất lem nhem, khó đọc. (His handwriting is very sloppy and hard to read.)
- Bức tường bị lem nhem sơn. (The wall is smeared with paint.)
Advanced Usage
- Used figuratively to describe unclear or muddled situations or speech:
- Câu chuyện của cô ấy nghe rất lem nhem, không có đầu đuôi rõ ràng. (Her story sounds very muddled and lacks a clear sequence.)
- Kế hoạch vẫn còn lem nhem, cần làm rõ hơn. (The plan is still vague/unclear and needs to be clarified.)
Variants and Related Words
- Lem (verb): To smudge, to smear.
- Cẩn thận kẻo lem mực. (Be careful not to smudge the ink.)
- Nhếch nhác (adj): Sloppy, untidy (often regarding general appearance or cleanliness, not specifically smudging).
- Bẩn thỉu (adj): Filthy, dirty (stronger connotation of dirtiness).
Synonyms
- Bôi bác (adj): Messy, sloppy (often used for writing or work).
- Nguệch ngoạc (adj): Scribbled, scrawled (specifically for handwriting or drawing).
- Lấm lem (adj): Smudged, dirtied (often with mud or dirt).
Related Phrases (if applicable)
- Viết lem nhem: To write messily/illegibly.
- Đừng viết lem nhem như thế. (Don't write so messily.)
- Vẽ lem nhem: To draw/paint messily.
- Đứa trẻ vẽ lem nhem lên giấy. (The child scribbled messily on the paper.)
Related Idioms
- Đầu tóc lem nhem: (Literally: lem nhem hair) Describes disheveled, untidy hair.
- Cô ấy thức dậy với đầu tóc lem nhem. (She woke up with disheveled hair.)
- Chuyện kể lem nhem: A confusing, incoherently told story.
- Đừng nghe chuyện kể lem nhem của hắn. (Don't listen to his muddled story.)