mệt xác
Definition
- Adjective (Colloquial, Emphatic):
- Extremely tired, physically exhausted, worn out: An emphatic and often vulgar expression describing a state of complete physical fatigue, typically from hard work or exertion. It implies the fatigue is so severe it feels as if it has penetrated to one's very bones or physical body ("xác" meaning corpse or body).
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Làm việc cả ngày, tôi mệt xác rồi. (Working all day, I am completely exhausted.)
- Đi bộ đường dài xong, bọn trẻ mệt xác và ngủ ngay lập tức. (After the long hike, the kids were dead tired and fell asleep immediately.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is informal and carries a strong, visceral connotation. It is more intense than standard words for tiredness like "mệt" or "mệt mỏi". It is commonly used in spoken language among peers but may be considered crude in formal contexts.
Variants and Related Words
Mệt nhoài (adj): extremely tired, worn out (slightly less vulgar than "mệt xác").
- Tập thể dục xong, anh ấy mệt nhoài. (After exercising, he was completely worn out.)
Mệt lử (adj): extremely tired, dog-tired (colloquial).
- Chạy deadline cả tuần, cô ấy mệt lử. (Running after deadlines all week, she is dog-tired.)
Synonyms
- Exhausted: drained of strength or energy.
- Dead tired: extremely fatigued (informal).
- Worn out: extremely tired, used up.
- Fatigued: weary from labor or exertion.
Related Idioms
Mệt đứt hơi: so tired one is out of breath; exhausted.
- Leo lên đến đỉnh, tôi mệt đứt hơi. (Climbing to the top, I was exhausted and out of breath.)
Mệt thở không ra hơi: similar to "mệt đứt hơi", emphasizing being too tired to even breathe properly.
- Làm việc liên tục, anh ấy mệt thở không ra hơi. (Working non-stop, he was so tired he could barely breathe.)