lờ vờ
Definition
- Adjective / Adverb:
- Perfunctory; done merely for the sake of appearance: Describes an action performed without real effort, care, or interest, simply to go through the motions or to create a superficial impression of doing something.
- Lackadaisical; half-hearted: Characterized by a lack of energy, enthusiasm, or serious intent.
Usage Examples
- Adjective / Adverb:
- Anh ta làm việc một cách lờ vờ. (He works in a perfunctory manner.)
- Đừng có lờ vờ cho xong chuyện. (Don't do it half-heartedly just to get it over with.)
- Cô ấy trả lời lờ vờ khi bị hỏi. (She answered lackadaisically when asked.)
Advanced Usage
- The word often implies a deliberate or conscious choice to not engage fully, suggesting a superficial or token effort.
- It can describe a person's overall attitude or demeanor when they are dawdling or idling about without purpose.
- Nó lờ vờ cả ngày ở nhà chẳng làm gì. (He spent the whole day mooching around the house doing nothing.)
Variants and Related Words
Làm lờ vờ (v): to do something perfunctorily.
- Cậu học sinh làm bài tập lờ vờ trước giờ đi ngủ. (The student did his homework perfunctorily before bedtime.)
Vờ vĩnh (adj): pretended, feigned. This is a close synonym but often carries a stronger connotation of pretense or faking.
- Anh ấy tỏ vẻ vờ vĩnh như không biết gì. (He feigned ignorance.)
Synonyms
- Perfunctory: carried out with minimal effort or reflection.
- Half-hearted: without enthusiasm or energy.
- Lackadaisical: lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy.
- Token: done for the sake of appearances only.
Related Idioms
Làm cho có lệ: to do something just for form's sake. This idiom is nearly identical in meaning to "làm việc lờ vờ".
- Buổi họp đó chỉ làm cho có lệ. (That meeting was held just for form's sake.)
Cưỡi ngựa xem hoa: to do something in a cursory, non-committal way (literally: to view flowers while on horseback).
- Anh ấy đọc báo cáo kiểu cưỡi ngựa xem hoa. (He read the report in a superficial, cursory way.)