lớt phớt
Definition
Adjective:
- Superficial / Perfunctory / Cursory: Describes an action, understanding, or treatment that is done quickly, without depth, attention to detail, or serious engagement. It implies skimming the surface.
Adverb:
- Superficially / Perfunctorily / In a cursory manner: Describes the way an action is performed, indicating it is done in a shallow or hasty way.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Cô ấy chỉ có kiến thức lớt phớt về chủ đề này. (She only has a superficial knowledge of this topic.)
- Đó là một lời xin lỗi lớt phớt, không chân thành. (That was a perfunctory apology, not sincere.)
Adverb:
- Anh ấy đọc lớt phớt qua báo cáo. (He read the report cursorily.)
- Họ bàn luận vấn đề một cách lớt phớt trước khi chuyển sang chủ đề khác. (They discussed the issue superficially before moving to another topic.)
Advanced Usage
- The word often carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting insufficiency or a lack of thoroughness that is expected or required.
- It is commonly used with verbs related to learning, understanding, reading, discussing, or handling tasks.
Variants and Related Words
- Lơ mơ (adj): vague, hazy (about understanding).
- Qua loa (adj/adv): slipshod, done in a careless and rushed manner. While similar, "qua loa" often implies more negligence, while "lớt phớt" emphasizes lack of depth.
Synonyms
- Superficial: concerned only with the obvious or apparent.
- Perfunctory: carried out with minimal effort or reflection.
- Cursory: hasty and therefore not thorough.
- Shallow: lacking depth of character, intellect, or meaning.
Related Idioms
- Hiểu lớt phớt: to have a superficial understanding.
- Đừng hiểu lớt phớt rồi đưa ra kết luận. (Don't understand it superficially and then draw a conclusion.)