Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Stealthy; Sneaky: Characterized by secrecy, deception, or an attempt to avoid notice, often with a dishonest or furtive purpose.
   • Clandestine; Furtive: Done in a secretive, concealed manner, suggesting something is hidden because it is improper or forbidden.

2. Adverb:

   • Stealthily; Sneakily: In a secretive, quiet, and cautious manner to avoid being seen or heard.
   • On the sly; Surreptitiously: Done in a way that is intended to escape observation, often while doing something one should not do.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Hành động lén lút của hắn khiến mọi người nghi ngờ. (His sneaky actions made everyone suspicious.)
  • Đó là một vụ giao dịch lén lút. (It was a clandestine transaction.)

• Adverb:

  • Cậu bé lén lút lấy cái bánh trong tủ. (The boy stealthily took a cake from the cupboard.)
  • Họ gặp nhau một cách lén lút. (They met on the sly.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "lén lút" strongly implies a negative connotation of deceit, shame, or illegality. It is not a neutral term for simply being discreet.
• It can describe both physical actions (sneaking around) and abstract activities (sneaky plans, clandestine operations).

Variants and Related Words

• Lén (adv): Stealthily, on the quiet. Often used for a single, quick secretive action.
  • Nó lén nhìn bài của bạn. (He secretly peeked at his friend's test.)
• Vụng trộm (adj/adv): Furtive, clandestine; often used for secret romantic liaisons.
  • Cuộc tình vụng trộm. (A clandestine love affair.)

Synonyms

• Stealthy: Acting in a secret and careful way.
• Sneaky: Behaving in a secret and sometimes dishonest way.
• Clandestine: Kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.
• Furtive: Attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble.
• Surreptitious: Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Làm lén lút: To do something sneakily/on the sly.
  • Không được làm lén lút chuyện đó. (You must not do that on the sly.)
• Hành động lén lút: Sneaky/covert action.
  • Mọi hành động lén lút rồi cũng bị phát hiện. (All covert actions will eventually be discovered.)

adv, tính từ stealthy ; stealthily ; sneaky ; sneakity