nhèo nhèo
Definition
- Adjective (Tính từ):
- Very soft, mushy, or pulpy to the point of being formless: Describes a state where something is extremely soft, often due to being overcooked, overripe, or soaked, losing its original structure and becoming a soggy, formless mass.
- Figuratively, describes something weak, lacking strength or firmness, easily yielding: Used to describe a person's character, will, or body as being very weak, flabby, or lacking resilience.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Rau luộc quá lâu đã nát nhèo nhèo. (The vegetables were boiled for too long and became completely mushy.)
- Quả cà chua chín nhũn, sờ vào thấy nhèo nhèo. (The tomato was overripe and rotten, feeling pulpy to the touch.)
- Sau trận ốm, người anh ấy nhẽo nhèo, không còn chút sức lực. (After the illness, his body was very weak and flabby, without any strength.)
Advanced Usage
- Used for emphasis: The reduplicated form "nhèo nhèo" intensifies the meaning of the root word "nhèo," emphasizing an extreme state of softness, mushiness, or weakness.
- Nắm đất sét ướt nhèo nhèo trong tay. (The wet clay was utterly mushy in my hand.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nhèo (adj): Soft, mushy, pulpy. The root word.
- Bánh mì nhúng sữa trở nên nhèo. (The bread soaked in milk became soggy.)
- Nhẽo (adj): Limp, flaccid, weak (often used for people or body parts). A close synonym.
- Tay chân nhẽo ra vì mệt. (Limbs went limp from tiredness.)
- Nát (adj): Crushed, mashed, broken into pieces. Often used together with "nhèo" for emphasis.
- Nát nhèo (completely mashed and mushy).
Synonyms
- Nát bét: Completely crushed/mashed.
- Nhũn: Soft and rotten (often for fruits/vegetables).
- Ọp ẹp: Flabby, not firm (for flesh or structure).
- Yếu ớt: Weak, feeble (for health or character).
Related Idioms/Phrases
- (Bị/Đánh cho) nát nhèo: (To be beaten/to beat someone) to a pulp; to defeat or criticize someone severely.
- Đội bóng đó bị đối thủ đánh cho nát nhèo. (That football team was utterly crushed by their opponent.)
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xem nhèo (láy)
