Definition

1. Verb:
   • To hop, to skip, to bounce lightly: Describes the action of jumping or bouncing lightly and repeatedly, often with a sense of restlessness or playfulness, without staying still.
   • To fidget, to be unable to stand still: Can describe a state of constant, light movement due to excitement, impatience, or nervous energy.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đứa trẻ nhảy lói choi trên giường. (The child is hopping/bouncing on the bed.)
  • Cậu bé đứng lói choi một chân, chờ đến lượt mình. (The boy stood hopping on one foot, waiting for his turn.)
  • Sao con cứ lói choi suốt thế, ngồi yên một lúc đi! (Why are you fidgeting so much? Sit still for a moment!)

Advanced Usage

• "nhảy lói choi": A common collocation emphasizing the hopping/jumping action.

  • Mấy con chim sẻ nhảy lói choi trên cành cây. (The sparrows are hopping on the tree branch.)

• Used to describe light, repetitive, and often somewhat clumsy or impatient movements, typically of children, small animals, or restless individuals.

Variants and Related Words

• Nhảy: To jump (a more general term for jumping).
• Nháy: To blink, to flicker (homophone, different meaning).
• Chơi: To play (phonetically similar, but unrelated in meaning).

Synonyms

• Nhảy tưng tưng: To bounce up and down joyfully.
• Nháy nhót: To hop/jump about (similar, but can imply more erratic movement).
• Cựa quậy: To fidget, to squirm.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Nhảy lói choi như chim sáo: To hop about like a myna bird. (An idiom describing someone who is very restless or fidgety, unable to stand still.)
  • Thằng bé hiếu động, lúc nào cũng nhảy lói choi như chim sáo. (The hyperactive boy is always hopping about like a myna bird.)

1. hopping