lém lỉnh

Thằng bé lém lỉnh cười tinh nghịch khi giấu quả bóng sau lưng.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Slyly clever / mischievously sharp: Describes a person, typically a child, who is playfully cunning, quick-witted, and shows a cleverness that is often charming or amusing rather than malicious. It implies a heightened degree of the quality described by "lém."

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Thằng bé lém lỉnh. (The boy is slyly clever / mischievously sharp.)
  • Cô bé trả lời một cách rất lém lỉnh. (The girl answered in a very witty and mischievous way.)
  • Ánh mắt nó lém lỉnh. (Its eyes had a mischievously clever glint.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a tone of endearment or amusement when describing a child's clever behavior that borders on cheekiness.

Variants and Related Words

• Lém (adj): Clever, sharp, quick-witted (often used for children). "Lém lỉnh" is an intensified form.
  • Đứa trẻ này thật lém. (This child is really sharp.)

Synonyms

• Sly: Having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature (note: "lém lỉnh" is less negative).
• Mischievous: Showing a playful desire to cause trouble.
• Shrewd: Having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute.
• Witty: Showing quick and inventive verbal humor.

Related Idioms

• While "lém lỉnh" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, the behavior it describes is central to phrases like:
  • Khôn lỏi: Street-smart, in a sometimes cunning or crafty way (can have a more negative connotation than "lém lỉnh").