lê la
Definition
- Verb:
- To linger aimlessly or to loiter: To move or stay somewhere slowly and without purpose, often in a tired or idle manner.
- To drag oneself around: To go from place to place in a slow, weary, or reluctant way, as if with effort.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Bọn trẻ lê la ngoài sân suốt buổi chiều. (The children lingered aimlessly in the yard all afternoon.)
- Anh ấy chỉ lê la trong các quán cà phê cả ngày. (He just loafs around in coffee shops all day.)
- Đừng có lê la hết góc phố này đến góc phố khác. (Don't drag yourself from one street corner to another.)
Advanced Usage
- The word often carries a connotation of idleness, lack of productivity, or slight disapproval for spending time without a clear aim.
- It can describe physical movement but also imply a state of being unoccupied or wasting time.
Variants and Related Words
- Lê (v): to drag. This is the root verb, often implying a heavier, more laborious pull.
- Nó lê cái bàn nặng vào phòng. (He dragged the heavy table into the room.)
Synonyms
- To loiter: To stand or wait around without purpose.
- To linger: To stay in a place longer than necessary.
- To loaf: To spend time in a lazy, idle way.
Related Idioms
- Lê la lếch thếch: To dawdle or drag oneself around in a very slow, sloppy, or untidy manner. This phrase intensifies the aimless and sluggish quality of "lê la."
- Cậu ấy làm gì cũng lê la lếch thếch. (He does everything in a slow, dawdling way.)