lớt xớt
Definition
Adjective:
- Sloppy / Careless: Describes an action performed without care, attention, or thoroughness, leading to a messy or unsatisfactory result.
- Untidy / Messy: Refers to the state or appearance of something that is disorderly or not neatly arranged.
Adverb:
- In a sloppy manner / Carelessly: Describes the way an action is done, indicating a lack of care or precision.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Công việc này làm lớt xớt quá. (This work was done too sloppily.)
- Bàn học của nó lúc nào cũng lớt xớt. (His study desk is always messy.)
- Adverb:
- Đừng viết lớt xớt như thế. (Don't write so carelessly like that.)
- Nó ăn lớt xớt, làm rơi vãi cơm khắp nơi. (He ate sloppily, spilling rice everywhere.)
Advanced Usage
- The word often carries a tone of criticism or disapproval, pointing out a lack of effort or pride in one's work or appearance.
- It can be used to describe both tangible things (like a room, handwriting) and intangible actions (like the way a task is performed).
Variants and Related Words
- Cẩu thả (adj): Negligent, slapdash. Often interchangeable with "lớt xớt" but can imply a more serious lack of responsibility.
- Anh ta làm việc một cách cẩu thả. (He works in a negligent manner.)
- Qua loa (adj/adv): Superficial, perfunctory. Suggests doing something just to get it done without proper care.
- Bài tập làm qua loa sẽ không đạt điểm cao. (Homework done perfunctorily will not get a high score.)
Synonyms
- Sloppy: Lacking care or neatness.
- Careless: Not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors.
- Messy: Untidy or dirty.
- Slapdash: Done too hurriedly and carelessly.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Làm ăn lớt xớt: To do business or work in a careless, unprofessional manner.
- Cửa hàng đó đóng cửa vì làm ăn lớt xớt. (That shop closed down because it was run in a sloppy manner.)
- Ăn nói lớt xớt: To speak carelessly or without thinking.
- Ăn nói lớt xớt dễ gây hiểu lầm. (Speaking carelessly can easily cause misunderstandings.)