lỏi

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Mischievous; impish: Used to describe a child, typically a boy, who is naughty, playful, or acts like a rascal.
   • Mixed with inferior quality; not uniform: Describes something, especially rice, that is of mixed or uneven quality, containing leftover poor grains.
   • Alone; solitary; by oneself: Describes an action done singly or in isolation.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (mischievous):
  • Thằng bé đó rất lỏi. (That boy is very mischievous.)
• Adjective (mixed quality):
  • Mẹ tôi không mua gạo lỏi. (My mother doesn't buy mixed-quality rice.)
• Adjective (alone):
  • Nó cứ thích chơi lỏi một mình. (He always likes to play by himself.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "lỏi" is considered colloquial and is most commonly used in Northern Vietnamese dialects.
• When describing a person, it often carries a mildly scolding but not severely negative tone, similar to "little rascal."

Variants and Related Words

• Đi lỏi (v): To go alone or by oneself.
  • Nó đi lỏi ra chợ. (He went to the market by himself.)

Synonyms

• Mischievous: naughty, impish, rascally.
• Mixed: uneven, adulterated (for goods).
• Alone: solitary, lone, single.

Related Idioms

• Chơi lỏi: To play alone; to act independently without joining others.
  • Cả lớp đi picnic, chỉ có nó chơi lỏi ở nhà. (The whole class went on a picnic, only he stayed home alone.)