lơ thơ
Definition
- Adjective:
- Sparse; thinly scattered; few and far between: Describes objects of the same kind that are few in number and spaced widely apart, creating an impression of scarcity or isolation within a space.
- Wispy; straggly: Used to describe hair, beard, or foliage that is thin, patchy, and not growing densely.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Trên cánh đồng chỉ có lơ thơ vài cây dừa. (On the field, there are only a few sparse coconut trees.)
- Ông cụ có chòm râu lơ thơ. (The old man has a wispy beard.)
- Những ngôi sao lơ thơ trên bầu trời sớm tối. (Stars are thinly scattered in the early evening sky.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "lơ thơ" often carries a poetic or descriptive connotation, evoking a sense of quiet, loneliness, or gentle desolation in a landscape or scene.
- Cảnh làng quê thật thanh bình với những mái nhà lơ thơ. (The countryside scene was very peaceful with houses dotted here and there.)
Variants and Related Words
- Thưa thớt (adj): A close synonym meaning sparse, thinly spread. It is often interchangeable with "lơ thơ" but can sound slightly more formal or statistical.
- Dân cư trong vùng này thưa thớt. (The population in this area is sparse.)
Synonyms
- Sparse
- Scattered
- Thinly distributed
- Wispy (for hair/foliage)
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Lơ thơ lác đác: An alliterative phrase that intensifies the meaning of "lơ thơ," emphasizing extreme sparseness and random distribution.
- Dọc theo con đường, chỉ thấy lơ thơ lác đác vài quán nhỏ. (Along the road, one could only see a few small shops scattered here and there.)