lăng lắc
Definition
Verb:
- To shake or wobble repeatedly with small, quick movements: Describes an object or part of an object moving back and forth or side to side in an unsteady, often rapid manner.
- To sway or rock unsteadily: Often implies a loose or unstable connection causing the movement.
Adjective:
- Wobbly, loose, or shaky: Describes something that is not firmly fixed and tends to move or shake easily.
Usage Examples
Verb:
- Cái ghế này bị lăng lắc. (This chair is wobbly/shakes.)
- Đứa trẻ lăng lắc cái lục lạc. (The child shakes the rattle.)
Adjective:
- Chiếc răng sữa đã lăng lắc. (The baby tooth is loose/wobbly.)
- Cánh cửa lắp không chắc nên hơi lăng lắc. (The door was installed loosely so it's a bit shaky.)
Advanced Usage
- "lăng lắc lư": to sway one's hips (in a walking or dancing motion).
- Cô ấy đi với dáng lăng lắc lư. (She walks with a hip-swaying gait.)
Variants and Related Words
- Lắc (verb): To shake. A more general and commonly used verb for shaking.
- Lắc chai nước. (Shake the water bottle.)
- Lỏng lẻo (adjective): Loose, not tight. Describes a state, not necessarily involving movement.
- Ốc vít lỏng lẻo. (Loose screws.)
Synonyms
- Lao đao (verb): To totter, to stagger. Often implies unsteadiness due to weakness or force, not just small movements.
- Chao đảo (verb): To sway, to rock. Can imply a more significant, possibly dangerous, unsteadiness.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
Note: As a descriptive verb, 'lăng lắc' itself does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its usage is typically straightforward.
Related Idioms
- "Đầu lăng lắc như lục lạc": (One's head) shakes like a rattle. Used to describe someone nodding or shaking their head vigorously or uncontrollably.
- Nghe nhạc, nó gật đầu lăng lắc như lục lạc. (Listening to music, he nods his head shaking like a rattle.)