lần thần
Definition
- Adjective:
- Dazed; listless; sluggish: Describes a state of being mentally or physically slow, lacking alertness or energy, often due to illness, fatigue, or distraction.
- Vacant; glassy: Specifically used to describe eyes that appear unfocused, expressionless, or lacking their usual liveliness.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cô ấy nhìn lần thần ra cửa sổ. (She gazed dazedly out the window.)
- Mắt anh ấy lần thần sau ca làm việc dài. (His eyes were glassy after the long work shift.)
- Người bệnh vẫn còn lần thần sau khi mổ. (The patient was still listless after the surgery.)
Advanced Usage
- The word is often used to describe a temporary state of diminished capacity, not a permanent trait. It implies a noticeable departure from one's normal, alert condition.
Variants and Related Words
- Thần thần lần thần (adj): An intensified form, meaning extremely dazed or out of it.
- Cậu bé sốt cao, người cứ thần thần lần thần. (The boy had a high fever and was completely out of it.)
Synonyms
- Lethargic: sluggish and apathetic.
- Stunned: dazed or shocked.
- Vacant: showing no intelligence or interest.
Related Idioms
- While "lần thần" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is commonly used in descriptive phrases about physical or mental state.
- Mặt mày lần thần: to have a dazed face/expression.
- Nghe tin đó, anh ấy mặt mày lần thần. (Hearing that news, he had a stunned expression.)