Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Tangled, entangled, ravelled: Describes a state where things, especially long, thin objects like threads or wires, are twisted together in a disorderly manner, making them difficult to separate.
   • Very tough, rubbery, sinewy: Describes the texture of food, especially meat, that is extremely chewy, tough, and elastic, requiring much effort to bite through.
   • Nonsensical, foolish, silly: Describes speech or talk that is absurd, illogical, or lacking sense.

2. Verb:

   • To tangle, to entangle: To cause things to become twisted or knotted together.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Sợi nọ nhằng sợi kia. (One thread is tangled with another.)
  • Thịt bò dai nhằng. (The beef is very tough and sinewy.)
  • Đừng nói nhằng! (Don't talk nonsense!)

• Verb:

  • Đứa trẻ nhằng các sợi dây lại với nhau. (The child tangled the strings together.)

Advanced Usage

• "nhằng nhằng" (reduplicative form):
  • This form intensifies the adjective's meaning, often implying a prolonged, persistent, or aggravating quality.
  • Thịt bò bạc nhạc dai nhằng nhằng. (The rubble-like sinewy part of a joint of beef is extremely tough and rubbery.)
  • Nó cứ nói nhằng nhằng mãi. (He just keeps talking nonsense persistently.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhằng nhịt (adj): Extremely tangled or complicated, often used for situations or stories that are convoluted.
  • Câu chuyện nhằng nhịt khó hiểu. (The story is extremely convoluted and hard to understand.)
• Lằng nhằng (adj): Protracted, long-winded, unnecessarily complicated or bothersome.
  • Thủ tục lằng nhằng. (The procedures are long-winded and bothersome.)

Synonyms

• Rối (adj): Tangled, messy (for threads/situations).
• Dai (adj): Tough, chewy (for food).
• Xằng, bậy (adj): Nonsensical, wrong (for speech).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Nhằng vào (v): To get tangled into, to become involved in (a messy situation).
  • Nó nhằng vào một vụ tranh chấp phức tạp. (He got tangled into a complicated dispute.)
• Nhằng chuyện nọ với chuyện kia (v): To mix one story with another, to conflate issues.
  • Anh ta cứ nhằng chuyện nọ với chuyện kia, nghe rất khó chịu. (He keeps mixing one story with another, which is very annoying to listen to.)

Related Idioms

• Nói nhằng nói cuội: To talk utter nonsense (a common fixed phrase where "cuội" also means nonsense or lies).
  • Đừng tin nó, nó toàn nói nhằng nói cuội thôi. (Don't believe him, he's always talking utter nonsense.)

1. Be entangle, be tangled, be ravelled
   • Sợi nọ nhằng sợi kia
     One thread is tangled with another
   • nhằng nhằng (láy, ý kéo dài)
     Tough, rubber-like
   • Thịt bò bạc nhạc dai nhằng nhằng
     The rubble-like sinewy part of a joint of beef
2. Nonsensical
   • Nói nhằng
     to talk nonsense