Definition

1. Verb:
   • To be lost gradually; to fall away; to fade away; to atrophy. This word describes the slow, piece-by-piece loss or disappearance of something intangible, such as knowledge, skills, or memories, due to lack of use or maintenance. It evokes the image of leaves or petals falling from a tree one by one.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Kiến thức toán học của tôi đã rơi rụng nhiều sau khi ra trường. (My mathematical knowledge has faded away a lot since graduating.)
  • Nếu không luyện tập thường xuyên, kỹ năng ngoại ngữ sẽ nhanh chóng rơi rụng. (If not practiced regularly, foreign language skills will quickly atrophy.)
  • Những ký ức về thời thơ ấu dần dần rơi rụng theo năm tháng. (Memories of childhood gradually fall away over the years.)

Advanced Usage

• The word rơi rụng is almost exclusively used for abstract, non-physical things that deteriorate over time. It is not typically used for physical objects falling (for which rơi or rụng alone is used).
• It often carries a tone of regret or passive observation about a slow process of loss that is difficult to stop.

Variants and Related Words

• Rơi (v): to fall (general, for objects or abstract concepts like "into a situation").
• Rụng (v): to fall off, to shed (typically for leaves, hair, petals).
• Mai một (v): to become obliterated, to fade into oblivion (stronger, implies near-total loss).
• Phai nhạt (v): to fade, to become dim (often for memories or feelings).

Synonyms

• To atrophy: to waste away from lack of use.
• To fade away: to disappear gradually.
• To be lost gradually: to be lost little by little.
• To fall into disuse: to stop being used and be forgotten.

Related Idioms

• While rơi rụng itself is not commonly part of a fixed idiom, its meaning is central to the concept expressed in phrases like:
  • Học không hành thì dễ quên, kiến thức rơi rụng dần. (Learning without practice leads to easy forgetting; knowledge gradually falls away.)

1. Be lost gradually, go gradually
   • Học tiếng nước ngoài mà ít dùng đến thì cũng chóng rơi rụng
     Little practice in a foreign language being learnt will soon make what one knows go gradually