oắt
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Puny, tiny, very small: Used to describe a person, especially a child, who is unusually small and weak in stature, often with a connotation of disdain or belittlement.
- Runt, shrimp: Can refer to a small, undersized child.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Thằng bé trông thật oắt. (That boy looks so puny/tiny.)
- Nó oắt thế nhấc sao được cái va li ấy. (He's so tiny/puny, how can he lift that suitcase?)
- Đừng coi thường thằng oắt ấy, nó rất thông minh. (Don't look down on that little shrimp; he's very smart.)
Advanced Usage
- Used as a noun: While primarily an adjective, "oắt" can sometimes function informally as a noun to refer to a small, puny child.
- Tụi oắt trong xóm đang chơi đá bóng. (The little runts in the neighborhood are playing soccer.)
- Pejorative/Disparaging tone: The word often carries a mildly derogatory or condescending nuance, implying the subject is insignificantly small or weak. It is more common in spoken, informal Vietnamese.
Variants and Related Words
- Oắt con (n): A more common compound noun meaning a very small child, a little kid. (Note: This is a compound and not the target word alone).
- Mấy đứa oắt con chạy lon ton trong sân. (The little kids are running around in the yard.)
- Nhỏ oắt (adj phrase): An emphatic phrase meaning "extremely small."
- Cô bé nhỏ oắt nhưng hát rất hay. (The girl is extremely tiny but sings very well.)
Synonyms
- Bé tí: Very small, tiny (less derogatory).
- Nhỏ xíu: Extremely small (neutral).
- Còi cọc: Stunted, underdeveloped (emphasizes poor growth).
Related Idioms/Phrases
- (Chưa) thoát khỏi tuổi oắt con: (Has not yet) outgrown the age of being a little kid; still very young and immature.
- Nó vẫn chưa thoát khỏi tuổi oắt con, đừng trách nó nhiều quá. (He's still just a little kid, don't blame him too much.)