Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Tortuous, winding, sinuous: Describes something, typically a path, road, or line, that has many twists, turns, and bends, making it not straight or direct.
   • Figuratively, complicated, convoluted: Can describe a process, argument, or piece of writing that is excessively lengthy and complex, with many intricate parts.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Con đường lên núi rất quằn quèo. (The mountain road is very tortuous.)
  • Dòng sông quằn quèo uốn lượn qua cánh đồng. (The winding river meanders through the field.)
  • Lập luận của anh ta quằn quèo và khó hiểu. (His argument is convoluted and hard to understand.)

Advanced Usage

• "quằn quèo" to describe pain: Sometimes used metaphorically to describe a sharp, twisting, or cramping pain.
  • Cơn đau bụng quằn quèo khiến cô ấy không thể đứng thẳng. (The wrenching stomach pain made her unable to stand up straight.)

Variants and Related Words

• Quanh co (adj): Winding, roundabout. Often used similarly for physical paths but can also imply indirect speech or action.
  • Anh ấy trả lời quanh co thay vì nói thẳng. (He gave an evasive answer instead of speaking directly.)
• Khúc khuỷu (adj): Rugged, full of sharp bends and obstacles. Often describes a difficult, uneven path.
  • Đường đời khúc khuỷu. (Life's path is rugged.)

Synonyms

• Ngoằn ngoèo (adj): Zigzagging, serpentine. Very close in meaning, emphasizing a snake-like shape.
• Uốn lượn (verb): To meander, to curve gracefully. Often used for rivers, roads, or dance movements.

Related Idioms

• Đường đi *quằn quèo*: A tortuous/winding road. Used literally or figuratively for a complicated process.
  • Sự nghiệp của ông ấy là một chặng đường đi quằn quèo. (His career has been a tortuous journey.)
• Lối nói *quanh co quằn quèo*: Convoluted, roundabout way of speaking.
  • Đừng có quanh co quằn quèo, hãy đi thẳng vào vấn đề. (Don't beat around the bush, get straight to the point.)

1. Tortuous
   • Con đường quằn quèo
     A tortuous road