Definition

Adjective: - Tattered, ragged: Describes something, typically fabric or paper, that is torn into many pieces or is in a state of extreme disrepair and shredding. It emphasizes a condition of being completely and utterly torn apart.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Chiếc áo cũ ấy đã rách tươm sau nhiều năm sử dụng. (That old shirt became completely tattered after many years of use.)
  • Lá thư bị xé rách tươm trước khi nó được đọc. (The letter was torn to shreds before it could be read.)
  • Những tấm bạt che đã rách tươm sau cơn bão. (The tarps were left ragged after the storm.)

Advanced Usage

• "rách tươm tả tơi": An intensified phrase meaning utterly and completely torn to shreds, emphasizing total destruction.
  • Chiếc buồm rách tươm tả tơi trong gió lớn. (The sail was utterly shredded in the strong wind.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rách bươm: A direct synonym with identical meaning and usage.
  • Quyển sách rơi xuống nước, giấy rách bươm. (The book fell into the water, the pages were all tattered.)
• Tả tơi: Often used similarly to mean tattered or torn, and frequently combined with "rách tươm" for emphasis. It can also describe a state of ruin or disarray more broadly.
• Rách nát: Meaning torn and damaged, but may imply a slightly less extreme state than "rách tươm".

Synonyms

• Tattered: Torn and in poor condition.
• Ragged: Having a rough, torn, or uneven edge or surface.
• Shredded: Torn or cut into shreds (thin strips).
• In tatters: An idiom meaning badly torn.

Related Idioms

• Nát như tương: Literally "mushed like fermented soybean paste"; figuratively means completely crushed or smashed to pieces. While not a direct synonym, it conveys a similar sense of total destruction.
• Tan tành: To be shattered or broken into pieces. Used for both physical objects and abstract concepts like plans or dreams.

1. Tattered, ragged