Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Complicated, complex: Describes a situation, task, or problem that is intricate, involved, and difficult to manage or resolve due to having many interconnected parts or steps.
   • Troublesome, finicky: Refers to something that is overly detailed, fussy, or requires tedious and excessive effort to deal with.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Công việc này rất nhiêu khê. (This job is very complicated.)
  • Thủ tục nhiêu khê khiến mọi người nản lòng. (The troublesome procedures discourage everyone.)
  • Đó là một vấn đề nhiêu khê cần giải quyết cẩn thận. (That is a complex problem that needs careful resolution.)

Advanced Usage

• The word nhiêu khê often carries a negative connotation, implying not just complexity but also an unnecessary, annoying, or cumbersome level of difficulty. It is frequently used to criticize processes or situations seen as overly bureaucratic or convoluted.

Variants and Related Words

• Phức tạp (adj): complex, complicated. (A more neutral synonym).
• Rắc rối (adj): troublesome, tangled. (Often used interchangeably with but can imply more confusion).
• Phiền phức (adj): bothersome, inconvenient. (Focuses on the aspect of causing trouble or annoyance).

Synonyms

• Complicated: Consisting of many interconnecting parts or elements.
• Convoluted: Extremely complex and difficult to follow.
• Troublesome: Causing difficulty or annoyance.
• Fussy: Overly concerned with detail; finicky.

Related Idioms

• While nhiêu khê itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is commonly used in phrases that describe burdensome processes:
  • Nhiêu khê giấy tờ: paperwork hassle; red tape.

    • Dự án bị chậm vì nhiêu khê giấy tờ. (The project was delayed due to paperwork hassles.)

1. Complicated, complex
   • Công việc nhiêu khê
     A complicated job