Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Lame, crippled: Describes a person or animal with a physical disability affecting their ability to walk normally, typically due to an injury or defect in a leg or foot.
   • Hackneyed, trite, clichéd: Describes language, ideas, or expressions that are overused and lacking in originality or freshness, making them seem stale or ineffective.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Physical disability):

  • Sau tai nạn, chân anh ấy bị què quặt. (After the accident, his leg became lame.)
  • Con chó què quặt vẫn trung thành đi theo chủ. (The lame dog still loyally follows its owner.)

• Adjective (Overused language/ideas):

  • Bài văn của cậu ấy đầy những ý tưởng què quặt. (His essay is full of hackneyed ideas.)
  • Lời khen đó nghe thật què quặt và không chân thành. (That compliment sounds very trite and insincere.)

Advanced Usage

• Used metaphorically: Often used to criticize not just language, but also systems, methods, or arguments that are flawed, ineffective, or "limping" because they rely on outdated or weak foundations.
  • Lập luận què quặt của anh ta không thuyết phục được ai. (His lame argument couldn't convince anyone.)
  • Nền kinh tế đang phát triển với một chính sách què quặt. (The economy is developing with a flawed policy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Què (adj): The more common and shorter form meaning "lame" or "crippled." "Què quặt" can be seen as an emphatic or literary variant.
• Tật nguyền (adj/n): Disabled, handicapped. A broader and more formal term for physical disability.
• Sáo rỗng (adj): Hollow, clichéd. A close synonym for the figurative meaning related to language.
• Cũ rích (adj): Old-fashioned, antiquated. Can describe outdated ideas.

Synonyms

• Tàn tật (adj): Disabled, infirm. (For the physical meaning).
• Nhàm chán (adj): Boring, tedious. (For the figurative meaning, focusing on the effect).
• Khuôn sáo (adj): Stereotyped, formulaic. (For the figurative meaning).

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Ý tưởng què quặt: A lame/hackneyed idea.
• Lời nói què quặt: Trite/clichéd words.
• Chân què quặt: A lame/crippled leg.

adj

1. lame; hackneyed