mềm nhẽo
Definition
- Adjective:
- Flaccid; limp; flabby: Describes an object, material, or body part that is excessively soft, lacking firmness, rigidity, or elasticity, often to the point of being droopy or shapeless.
- Weak-willed; spineless: Describes a person's character, attitude, or resolve as being irresolute, easily influenced, or lacking in strength and determination.
Usage Examples
- Adjective (Physical Property):
- Sau khi luộc, rau trở nên mềm nhẽo. (After boiling, the vegetables became limp.)
- Chiếc gối cũ mềm nhẽo và không còn giữ được hình dạng. (The old pillow was flabby and no longer held its shape.)
- Adjective (Character Trait):
- Anh ấy là một người lãnh đạo mềm nhẽo, luôn nhượng bộ. (He is a weak-willed leader who always gives in.)
- Đừng có mềm nhẽo mà để họ lấn át. (Don't be spineless and let them push you around.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a negative connotation, implying an undesirable lack of necessary firmness or strength, whether in a physical or metaphorical sense.
- It can be used to criticize the texture of food, the quality of materials, or the ineffectiveness of policies or rules.
- Luật này được thi hành một cách mềm nhẽo. (This law is enforced in a lax/weak manner.)
Variants and Related Words
- Mềm (adj): Soft; gentle. This is the root word, which is neutral or positive. "Mềm nhẽo" intensifies "mềm" with a negative nuance.
- Nhũn nhẽo (adj): Very similar in meaning to "mềm nhẽo," often used interchangeably, perhaps with a slightly stronger emphasis on being mushy or overly pliant.
Synonyms
- Flaccid: Lacking firmness.
- Limp: Lacking stiffness.
- Flabby: Lacking firmness, often due to fat or poor tone.
- Spineless: Lacking courage or determination.
- Wishy-washy: Irresolute or feeble.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Mềm như bún: As soft as rice noodles. An idiom emphasizing extreme physical softness, often used for overcooked food or very pliable objects.
- Miếng thịt hầm mềm như bún. (The stewed meat was as soft as rice noodles.)