lẻng kẻng
Definition
- Onomatopoeia:
- A clanging or clanking sound: The word "lẻng kẻng" imitates the sharp, ringing, metallic sound produced when hard metal objects (like pots, pans, or tools) strike against each other or fall onto a hard surface.
Usage Examples
- Onomatopoeia:
- Nghe tiếng lẻng kẻng từ trong bếp. (Hear the clanging from the kitchen.)
- Mấy cái thìa rơi xuống sàn kêu lẻng kẻng. (The spoons fell on the floor with a clank.)
Advanced Usage
- Used descriptively: While primarily an onomatopoeia, "lẻng kẻng" can function descriptively to evoke a scene of disorder or noise involving metal.
- Căn nhà kho cũ vang lên những tiếng lẻng kẻng. (The old warehouse echoed with clanging sounds.)
Variants and Related Words
- Leng keng (onomatopoeia): A variant spelling and pronunciation with the same meaning, imitating a lighter, higher-pitched metallic jingle or clink.
Synonyms
- Clang: A loud, resonant metallic sound.
- Clank: A sharp, hard, metallic sound, often duller than a clang.
- Jingle: A light, ringing sound, as of small metal pieces.
Related Idioms
- Tiếng lẻng kẻng: This phrase itself is often used idiomatically to refer to the specific, recognizable sound of metal.
- Chỉ còn văng vẳng tiếng lẻng kẻng của xích sắt. (Only the faint clanking of iron chains remained.)