lặc lè
Definition
- Adjective:
- Heavy and cumbersome; ponderous: Describes an object that is not only heavy in weight but also awkward or difficult to carry or move due to its bulk, lack of balance, or unwieldy nature. It implies a sense of burdensome effort.
- Labored; with great effort: Describes an action, such as walking or moving, that is done in a slow, heavy, and strained manner due to carrying a heavy load or being weighed down.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Anh ấy vác bao gạo lặc lè trên vai. (He carried a ponderously heavy sack of rice on his shoulder.)
- Chiếc vali cũ kỹ ấy lặc lè lắm. (That old suitcase is very heavy and cumbersome.)
- Bà ấy bước đi lặc lè với hai xô nước đầy. (She walked with a labored step, carrying two full buckets of water.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "lặc lè" is often used in its reduplicated form "lặc là lặc lè" to intensify the meaning, emphasizing an even greater sense of heaviness and awkwardness.
- Chiếc tủ lạnh cũ lặc là lặc lè, bê lên tầng hai thật vất vả. (The old refrigerator was incredibly heavy and cumbersome, making it a real struggle to carry up to the second floor.)
Variants and Related Words
- Lặc là (adj): A variant, often used in conjunction with "lặc lè" in reduplication for emphasis. It carries the same core meaning of ponderous heaviness.
Synonyms
- Cumbersome: Difficult to carry or move because of size, weight, or shape.
- Ponderous: Slow and clumsy because of great weight.
- Unwieldy: Difficult to carry, move, or use because of its size, shape, or weight.
- Burdensome: Involving a heavy load or difficult effort.
Related Idioms
- While "lặc lè" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, its descriptive quality is used to vividly portray physical strain. It can be applied metaphorically to describe slow, difficult progress in non-physical tasks.
- Công việc giải quyết lặc lè vì thiếu nhân sự. (The work progressed in a labored, sluggish manner due to a lack of staff.)