Definition

1. Adjective:

   • (Of a wound or sore) ulcerated, festering, open and infected: Describes a wound or sore on the skin or mucous membrane that is inflamed, infected, and often weeping or oozing, typically not healing properly.
   • (Of a condition) causing ulceration: Describes a pathological state that leads to the formation of ulcers.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To become ulcerated; to fester: The process by which a wound or sore develops into an ulcer, becoming open, infected, and worsening.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Vết thương của anh ấy đã bắt đầu loét và có mùi hôi. (His wound had begun to fester and had a foul odor.)
  • Bệnh nhân bị viêm dạ dày nặng dẫn đến thành dạ dày bị loét. (The patient had severe gastritis leading to an ulcerated stomach lining.)

• Verb:

  • Nếu không giữ vệ sinh, vết xước nhỏ cũng có thể loét ra. (If not kept clean, even a small scratch can become ulcerated.)
  • Vùng da bị bỏng đang có dấu hiệu loét. (The burned skin area is showing signs of ulcerating.)

Advanced Usage

• "Loét lở": This is a common reduplicative phrase (a form of lexical reduplication in Vietnamese) that intensifies or emphasizes the state of being ulcerated and spreading. It describes a sore or condition that is severely ulcerated and worsening.
  • Cánh tay cô ấy nổi mẩn đỏ rồi loét lở rất đáng sợ. (Her arm broke out in a red rash and then became severely ulcerated, which was frightening.)

Variants and Related Words

• Loét dạ dày (noun phrase): Gastric ulcer / Stomach ulcer.
  • Ông ấy phải nhập viện vì loét dạ dày. (He had to be hospitalized for a stomach ulcer.)
• Loét tá tràng (noun phrase): Duodenal ulcer.
• Viêm loét (compound adjective/noun): Inflammatory ulceration; ulcerative inflammation.
  • Bệnh viêm loét đại tràng (Ulcerative colitis disease)
• Vết loét (noun): Ulcer; an open sore.
  • Bác sĩ đang điều trị vết loét ở chân cho bệnh nhân tiểu đường. (The doctor is treating the ulcer on the diabetic patient's leg.)

Synonyms

• Lở (verb/adj): To fester; to be sore. (Often used together with "loét" as "lở loét").
• Mưng mủ (verb phrase): To suppurate; to form pus.
• Nhiễm trùng (verb/noun): To be/become infected; infection. (This is a broader term for infection, which can cause ulceration).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Lở loét (Idiomatic/Reduplicative Phrase): As mentioned in "Advanced Usage," this is the most common idiomatic pairing. It vividly describes a severe, spreading state of ulceration and is often used beyond medical contexts to metaphorically describe something deteriorating or corrupting.
  • Công ty đang có những vấn đề lở loét từ nội bộ. (The company has festering problems from within.)

adj

1. (of wound) to be gaping