long tong
Definition
Adjective:
- Hasty, hurried, running around in a rush: Describes moving quickly and often aimlessly from place to place.
- Describing the sound of a small drum: Mimics the light, rapid, and repetitive sound of a small drumbeat.
Adverb:
- In a hurried, rushing manner: Describes the manner of an action done with haste and constant movement.
- Describing the sound of dripping water: Mimics the sound of water falling in rapid, light drops.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Đứa trẻ chạy long tong khắp xóm. (The child ran around hastily all over the village.)
- Tiếng trống long tong vang lên. (The sound of the small drum rattled.)
Adverb:
- Nó cứ chạy long tong suốt buổi sáng. (He kept running around in a rush all morning.)
- Nước mưa rơi long tong trên mái tôn. (The rain dripped rapidly on the tin roof.)
Advanced Usage
"long tong suốt ngày": to run around busily all day long.
- Anh ấy bận rộn long tong suốt ngày. (He is busy running around all day.)
Used to emphasize continuous, somewhat chaotic movement or sound.
- Tiếng mưa rơi long tong không dứt. (The sound of the rain dripping incessantly.)
Variants and Related Words
- Lăng xăng (adj): Busybody, fussy; often moving around busily but sometimes without clear purpose. (Note: focuses more on bustling activity, while emphasizes the hurried, rushing motion and sound.)
- Lộp độp (onomatopoeia): Describes a heavier, thicker dripping or pattering sound, like large rain drops.
Synonyms
- Vội vã: Hurried, hasty.
- Lật đật: Bustling, in a hurry.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Chạy long tong: To run around hastily.
- Nó chạy long tong đi tìm chìa khóa. (He ran around hastily looking for the key.)
Related Idioms
- Đầu voi đuôi chuột (lit. "Head of an elephant, tail of a mouse"): Describes something that starts grandly but ends poorly or insignificantly. While not directly containing , it shares a thematic connection with actions that are frantic () but may lack substantial results.