Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Tired; fatigued: Describes a state of physical or mental exhaustion, often to the point of feeling weak or listless.
   • Bent out of shape; slackened: Describes an object (typically something thin and flexible like a hook or wire) that has lost its original taut or curved shape, becoming straightened or deformed.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Tired):

  • Làm việc cả ngày khiến tôi cảm thấy rất oải. (Working all day makes me feel very tired/fatigued.)
  • Anh ấy trông oải hẳn sau chuyến đi dài. (He looks completely worn out after the long trip.)

• Adjective (Bent out of shape):

  • Cái móc quần áo bị oải nên không dùng được nữa. (The clothes hanger is bent out of shape so it's no longer usable.)
  • Lưỡi câu này đã oải, cần phải uốn lại. (This fishhook has become slackened and needs to be bent back into shape.)

Advanced Usage

• "Mệt oải": An intensified phrase meaning extremely tired, utterly exhausted.

  • Sau trận ốm, cơ thể tôi mệt oải. (After the illness, my body is utterly exhausted.)

• "Oải người": To feel physically drained or fatigued throughout one's body.

  • Làm việc nặng oải cả người. (Doing heavy work makes my whole body feel drained.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mệt mỏi (adj): Tired, weary. This is a more common and standard synonym for the "tired" meaning of "oải".
• Rã rời (adj): Extremely tired, feeling like one's limbs are falling apart. Often used with "mệt" (mệt rã rời) for emphasis, similar to "mệt oải".
• Uể oải (adj): Sluggish, lethargic. This compound word combines "oải" to describe a slow, tired state of movement or mind.

Synonyms

• Kiệt sức (adj): Exhausted, depleted of strength.
• Mệt lử (adj, colloquial): Dog-tired, very fatigued.
• Chùng xuống (v): To sag, to slacken (for the "bent" meaning).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: "Oải" is primarily an adjective and is not commonly used to form phrasal verbs. Its meanings are expressed through adjectival phrases.)

Related Idioms

• "Oải như tàu lá chuối": (Simile) As limp/wilted as a banana leaf; used to describe someone who is extremely tired and lacking energy.
  • Làm xong việc, anh ta oải như tàu lá chuối. (After finishing the work, he was as limp as a banana leaf.)

adj

1. tired; fatigued