nhão
Definition
- Adjective:
- Mushy / soggy: Describes a substance, especially food like rice or porridge, that has become soft, wet, and lacking firmness due to excess water or overcooking.
- Flabby / limp: Refers to muscles or body tissue that lack firmness, tone, or strength.
- Failed / fallen through (colloquial): Describes a plan, deal, or situation that has collapsed, failed to materialize, or become invalid.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cơm bị nhão vì cho quá nhiều nước. (The rice is mushy because too much water was added.)
- Sau khi giảm cân, bắp tay anh ấy trở nên nhão. (After losing weight, his arm muscles became flabby.)
- Kế hoạch đi chơi cuối tuần nhão rồi vì trời mưa. (The weekend outing plan fell through because of the rain.)
Advanced Usage
- "nhão nhoét": An intensified form meaning very mushy, pulpy, or in a complete mess (often literal or figurative).
- Trái cây bị dập đã nhão nhoét. (The bruised fruit has become completely pulpy.)
- Công việc tổ chức nhão nhoét, không có gì rõ ràng. (The organizational work is a complete mess, nothing is clear.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nhão nhẹt (adj): Synonymous with "nhão nhoét," emphasizing a state of being overly soft and messy.
Synonyms
- Mushy / Soggy: For food or wet substances.
- Flabby / Limp: For muscles or physical structure.
- Failed / Canceled / Fallen through: For plans or agreements.
Related Idioms
- "Cơm nhão, canh nhạt": Literally "mushy rice, bland soup." Used to describe a meal that is poorly prepared or, figuratively, a situation that is unsatisfactory or lacks substance.
- Bữa tiệc như cơm nhão canh nhạt, chẳng có gì đặc sắc. (The party was like mushy rice and bland soup, there was nothing special about it.)