Definition

1. Noun:

   • Flood; inundation: A large amount of water covering an area that is usually dry, often caused by heavy rain or overflowing rivers.

2. Adjective:

   • Blunt; dull: Not sharp; having an edge or point that is not fine or sharp.
   • Dim; faint: (Of light) not bright or clear; weak.
   • Declined; diminished; fallen behind: Having decreased in quality, intensity, or rank; not as good as before.

Usage Examples

• As a noun (Flood):

  • Miền Trung thường xuyên bị lụt vào mùa mưa. (The Central region often experiences floods during the rainy season.)
  • Trận lụt năm nay đã phá hủy nhiều nhà cửa. (This year's flood destroyed many houses.)

• As an adjective (Blunt/Dull):

  • Con dao này đã lụt, cần mài lại. (This knife is blunt and needs sharpening.)
  • Ngọn đèn dầu lụt dần trong đêm. (The oil lamp grew dim in the night.)

• As an adjective (Declined/Diminished):

  • Vì lười học, nó đã bị lụt so với các bạn trong lớp. (Because he was lazy in his studies, he fell behind compared to his classmates.)
  • Sức khỏe của ông ấy đã lụt đi nhiều sau trận ốm. (His health has declined a lot after the illness.)

Advanced Usage

• "lụt bấc": Refers specifically to a wick that has been trimmed or has burned down, causing the flame of an oil lamp to become dim.
  • Đèn dầu cháy lâu nên bị lụt bấc. (The oil lamp has been burning for a long time, so the wick has diminished, making the flame dim.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lụt lội (noun): Flooding; often used to emphasize the state or condition of being flooded.

  • Sau cơn bão, cả thành phố ngập trong lụt lội. (After the storm, the entire city was submerged in flooding.)

• Nhụt (adjective): A variant spelling/pronunciation, primarily meaning blunt or dull (for a blade) or discouraged/dampened (for spirits).

  • Lưỡi dao nhụt không cắt được. (The dull knife blade cannot cut.)
  • Tin đó làm nhụt chí anh ta. (That news dampened his spirits.)

Synonyms

• Noun (Flood): Nạn lụt, trận lụt, lũ lụt, ngập lụt.
• Adjective (Blunt): Cùn, mòn.
• Adjective (Dim): Mờ, yếu.
• Adjective (Declined): Sút kém, tụt lại, sa sút.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Học lụt: To fall behind in one's studies; to perform worse academically than before or than others.

  • Nó ham chơi nên học lụt dần. (He loves playing so much that he's gradually falling behind in his studies.)

• Lụt nghề: To become less skilled or proficient in one's profession/trade over time.

  • Lâu không hành nghề, tay ông thợ đã lụt. (Having not practiced his trade for a long time, the craftsman's skills have become dull.)

Notes on Usage

• As a noun meaning "flood," lụt is very common in everyday language. The compound lũ lụt is also extremely frequent and carries a similar meaning, often referring to a severe flood event.
• When used as an adjective meaning "blunt," it is often applied to cutting tools like knives or scissors. The variant nhụt can be used interchangeably in this sense.
• The adjectival use meaning "to decline/diminish/fall behind" is often used in contexts related to academic performance, skills, health, or economic status.

noun

1. flood; inundation

adj

1. blunt; dull