Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Speaking thoughtlessly, speaking without careful consideration: "nhẹ miệng" describes the act of saying something carelessly, often without thinking about the potential consequences or the impact of one's words.
   • Having a loose tongue, being indiscreet: It implies a tendency to speak freely or reveal information that should perhaps be kept private or unspoken.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy thật là nhẹ miệng, vừa mới hứa giữ bí mật đã đi kể cho người khác ngay. (He is so thoughtless; he just promised to keep a secret and immediately went to tell someone else.)
  • Đừng có nhẹ miệng mà tiết lộ kế hoạch cho đối thủ biết. (Don't be indiscreet and reveal the plan to our competitors.)

Advanced Usage

• "nhẹ mồm nhẹ miệng": This is a common, emphatic reduplicated form of "nhẹ miệng". It carries the same core meaning but with a stronger, often more critical or reproachful tone, highlighting the speaker's carelessness.
  • Cô ấy nhẹ mồm nhẹ miệng quá, chuyện nhà ai cũng đem ra kể. (She has such a loose tongue; she tells everyone about other people's family matters.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhẹ mồm: A shortened, more colloquial variant with the same meaning as "nhẹ miệng".
• Lỡ lời (verb phrase): To make a slip of the tongue, to say something unintentionally. While "lỡ lời" can be accidental, "nhẹ miệng" often implies a lack of due care or discretion.
• Bộp chộp (adj): Rash, hasty (in action or speech). This is a close synonym describing impulsive behavior.

Synonyms

• Thiếu suy nghĩ (khi nói): To lack thought (when speaking).
• Không kín miệng: To not be tight-lipped, to be unable to keep secrets.
• Vô tâm (trong lời nói): To be inconsiderate (in speech).

Related Phrases

• Ăn nói nhẹ nhàng: To speak gently or softly. (Note: This phrase is about tone and manner, not about being thoughtless. It is included here to highlight the contrast, as "nhẹ" in this phrase refers to softness, not carelessness.)
• Giữ mồm giữ miệng: To guard one's mouth, meaning to be careful about what one says. This is the direct opposite behavior of being "nhẹ miệng".

Related Idioms

• "Nhẹ như lông hồng": (As light as a feather). This idiom uses "nhẹ" in its literal sense of physical lightness and is unrelated to the figurative meaning in "nhẹ miệng". It is included to clarify the different uses of the root word "nhẹ".

1. Speak throughtlessly
   • nhẹ mồm nhẹ miệng như nhẹ miệng