Definition

1. Verb:
   • To become loose, to wobble, to be not firmly fixed: Describes something that has started to become detached, unstable, or unsteady in its position.
   • To be shaken, to waver, to become unstable (figurative): Describes an abstract concept (like faith, trust, or determination) that is weakened or begins to falter.

Usage Examples

• Literal (Physical Object):
  • Chiếc răng của đứa trẻ đang lung lay. (The child's tooth is wobbly.)
  • Cái ghế này bị lung lay một chân. (This chair has a wobbly leg.)
• Figurative (Abstract Concept):
  • Niềm tin của công chúng vào chính phủ bắt đầu lung lay. (The public's trust in the government began to waver.)
  • Quyết tâm của anh ấy không hề lung lay trước khó khăn. (His determination did not waver in the face of difficulty.)

Advanced Usage

• "Lung lay lắc lư": Emphasizes a state of being very loose and shaky, often swinging or swaying.
  • Cánh cổng cũ lung lay lắc lư mỗi khi có gió. (The old gate swings and sways loosely every time the wind blows.)
• "Làm lung lay": To cause something to become shaky or to undermine.
  • Bê bối đó đã làm lung lay vị trí của ông ta. (That scandal undermined his position.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lỏng lẻo (adj): Loose, not tight or secure. (Describes a state, while "lung lay" describes the process of becoming loose).
• Chao đảo (verb): To totter, to be on the verge of collapse. (Often used for more severe instability, both literal and figurative).
• Dao động (verb): To oscillate, to fluctuate. (Often used for regular movement or for indecision in opinion).

Synonyms

• Long ra (verb): To become loose (more colloquial, usually for physical objects).
• Rung rinh (verb): To quiver, to tremble (often due to external force like wind).
• Chập chờn (verb): To flicker, to be unsteady (often for light or metaphorical stability).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: "Lung lay" itself is not typically combined with particles to form phrasal verbs in the same way English verbs are. Its meaning is modified by context or preceding verbs like "bị" (to be) or "làm" (to make).

Related Idioms

• "Vững như bàn thạch, không chút lung lay": (Firm as a rock, not wavering in the slightest.) – Used to describe unwavering steadfastness.
• "Lòng tin đã lung lay thì khó mà vực dậy": (Once trust has been shaken, it is hard to restore.) – Highlights the difficulty of regaining something once it becomes unstable.

verb

1. to begin to get loose; beshaky
   • uy tín lung lay
     a shaky credit