líu
Definition
- Verb:
- To speak unclearly or slur one's words: To talk in a way where the tongue seems tangled or the sounds are not articulated distinctly, often due to speaking too quickly, nervousness, or a physical impediment.
- To become tongue-tied: To have difficulty speaking smoothly, causing words to run together or become jumbled.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cậu bé nói líu cả lưỡi vì quá xúc động. (The boy slurred his words because he was so emotional.)
- Cô ấy líu lưỡi khi gặp người lạ. (She gets tongue-tied when meeting strangers.)
- Đừng nói nhanh quá, bạn sẽ bị líu. (Don't speak too fast, or you'll trip over your words.)
Advanced Usage
- "líu lưỡi": This is a common compound emphasizing the state of having a "tangled tongue." It is often used to describe the act or result of slurring.
- Bài phát biểu khó đến mức khiến diễn giả líu lưỡi. (The speech was so difficult it made the speaker tongue-tied.)
Variants and Related Words
- Líu lo (v): To chirp or warble (like a bird); to chatter cheerfully. This is a distinct word with a different, more positive meaning related to light, rapid sounds.
- Chim líu lo trên cành cây. (The birds are chirping in the tree branches.)
Synonyms
- To slur: To pronounce words indistinctly.
- To stumble over words: To speak with involuntary pauses or repetitions.
- To be tongue-tied: To be unable to speak clearly due to nervousness or shyness.
Related Idioms
- Líu tíu lưỡi: An intensified, reduplicative form meaning to be very tongue-tied or to chatter in a rapid, flustered manner.
- Cô bé líu tíu lưỡi kể về chuyến đi. (The little girl chattered excitedly about her trip.)