Definition

1. Verb:
   • To float, to flutter, to wave gently: Describes the light, swaying, or undulating movement of something thin, soft, and light (like fabric, hair, or a flag) in a breeze or wind.
   • To drift, to wander aimlessly: Describes moving or spending time without a clear purpose or direction, often in a leisurely or idle manner.
2. Adjective:
   • Negligent, perfunctory, half-hearted: Describes doing something in a careless, superficial, or unserious way, without proper attention or commitment.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to float/flutter):
  • Lá cờ đỏ sao vàng phất phơ trên đỉnh cột. (The red flag with a yellow star fluttered atop the pole.)
  • Mái tóc dài của cô ấy phất phơ trong gió. (Her long hair floated in the wind.)
• Verb (to drift/wander):
  • Cậu bé phất phơ ngoài đường suốt buổi chiều. (The boy drifted around the streets all afternoon.)
• Adjective (negligent):
  • Anh ta làm việc một cách phất phơ, không có trách nhiệm. (He works in a negligent way, without any responsibility.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often carries a poetic or descriptive connotation when referring to gentle movement.
• The reduplicative form "phất pha phất phơ" is used for emphasis, intensifying the sense of lightness, aimlessness, or carelessness.

Variants and Related Words

• Phấp phới (v): To flutter, to flap (often with more vigorous or joyful movement than ).
  • Những lá cờ phấp phới trong lễ hội. (The flags fluttered gaily during the festival.)
• Lang thang (v): To wander, to roam (stronger sense of aimlessness, often over a larger area).
• Hời hợt (adj): Superficial, shallow (similar to the adjectival meaning of ).

Synonyms

• Float, flutter, wave, sway (for gentle movement).
• Wander, drift, loaf, meander (for aimless movement).
• Negligent, careless, perfunctory, slapdash (for careless action).

Related Idioms

• Sống phất phơ: To live an aimless or carefree life without serious plans or commitments.
  • Sau khi nghỉ việc, anh ấy sống phất phơ mấy tháng trời. (After quitting his job, he lived aimlessly for months.)

verb

1. to float, to wave
   • lá cờ phất phơ trước gió
     flag that floats in the breeze