lảu bảu

Mẹ lảu bảu khi nhìn thấy phòng ngủ bừa bộn.

Definition

1. Adjective/Adverb:
   • Grumbling, muttering: Describes the act of complaining in a low, indistinct, and irritable voice, often under one's breath, typically due to annoyance, dissatisfaction, or a bad mood.
   • Sullen, sulky: Can describe a person's overall demeanor when they are in a state of quiet, resentful irritation.

Usage Examples

• Adjective/Adverb:
  • Ông ấy đi ra ngoài, miệng lảu bảu một mình. (He went outside, grumbling to himself.)
  • Đứa trẻ ngồi lảu bảu trong góc phòng. (The child sat sulking in the corner of the room.)
  • "Thôi được rồi," cô ấy nói lảu bảu. ("Fine then," she muttered sullenly.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of low, continuous, and indistinct speech. It is often used to depict a scene where a person is expressing discontent without directly confronting the cause.

Variants and Related Words

• Làu bàu: This is a direct variant with identical meaning and usage to "lảu bảu."
  • Anh ta làu bàu phàn nàn về thời tiết. (He grumbled about the weather.)

Synonyms

• Grumbling: complaining in a bad-tempered way.
• Muttering: speaking in a low, indistinct voice.
• Sulking: being silent, morose, and bad-tempered out of annoyance or disappointment.

Related Idioms

• While "lảu bảu" itself is descriptive, it is commonly used in the phrase "lảu bảu cái gì" (muttering/what are you grumbling about).
  • Đừng có lảu bảu gì ở đấy. (Stop muttering/grumbling over there.)