mệt nhừ
Definition
- Adjective:
- Utterly exhausted, completely worn out: Describes a state of extreme physical fatigue, where one's energy is completely depleted. It implies a more severe degree of tiredness than just "mệt."
- Dead tired, dog-tired: A colloquial equivalent indicating extreme exhaustion.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Sau trận đấu dài, các cầu thủ mệt nhừ. (After the long match, the players were utterly exhausted.)
- Làm việc đồng áng cả ngày khiến ông ấy mệt nhừ. (Working in the fields all day left him completely worn out.)
- Tôi leo lên đến đỉnh núi và cảm thấy mệt nhừ. (I climbed to the mountain top and felt dead tired.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "nhừ" intensifies the adjective "mệt." It is an intensifier similar to "completely" or "utterly," and is almost exclusively paired with "mệt" to form this fixed expression.
Variants and Related Words
- Mệt lả (adj): extremely tired to the point of feeling weak and limp.
- Mệt nhoài (adj): thoroughly exhausted, often with a sense of being physically spent.
- Mệt phờ (adj): tired out, weary, often visibly drooping.
Synonyms
- Exhausted: drained of strength or energy.
- Fatigued: worn out from labor or exertion.
- Spent: used up; having no energy left.
Related Idioms
- Mệt đứt hơi: so tired one is out of breath; exhausted and breathless.
- Chạy theo xe buýt, tôi mệt đứt hơi. (Running after the bus, I was exhausted and out of breath.)