lăn tăn
Definition
Adjective:
- Slightly rippled or wavy: Describing a surface, especially water, that has very small, gentle waves or undulations.
- Having tiny bumps or pimples: Describing skin or a surface that is covered with very small, raised spots or texture.
Verb (to be lăn tăn):
- To ripple gently: The action of forming small, gentle waves.
- To be covered in tiny bumps: The state of having small, raised spots appear.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Mặt hồ lăn tăn trong gió. (The lake surface is slightly rippled in the wind.)
- Da em bé nổi lên lăn tăn. (The baby's skin has broken out in tiny bumps.)
Verb:
- Nước lăn tăn khi có gió thổi nhẹ. (The water ripples gently when a soft wind blows.)
- Ngực bệnh nhân bắt đầu lăn tăn những nốt sởi. (The patient's chest began to show tiny measles spots.)
Advanced Usage
- Used to describe subtle textures or movements that are fine, small, and often repetitive.
- Cảm xúc lăn tăn: A metaphorical use describing faint, lingering, or rippling emotions.
- Nghe tin ấy, lòng tôi cứ lăn tăn mãi. (Hearing that news, my heart kept feeling uneasy/rippling.)
Variants and Related Words
- Gợn lăn tăn (v): to form tiny ripples.
- Mặt nước gợn lăn tăn. (The water surface forms tiny ripples.)
Synonyms
- Rippled: Having a wavy surface.
- Pimply: Covered with small pimples or bumps.
- Undulating: Moving with a smooth, wavelike motion.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Lòng dạ lăn tăn: To feel unsettled, anxious, or have nagging thoughts.
- Việc ấy làm tôi lòng dạ lăn tăn cả ngày. (That matter made me feel unsettled all day.)