Definition

1. Adjective:
   • To have free hands; to be free from work: Describes a state where one's hands are not occupied with tasks, or more broadly, when one is not busy with work or chores and has free time.
   • To have a moment of respite; to be unoccupied: Indicates a temporary break or period of leisure from one's duties or activities.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Chờ tôi một chút, lát nữa tôi rảnh tay sẽ giúp bạn. (Wait for me a moment, I will help you when I have free hands / am free.)
  • Cô ấy làm việc liên tục, chẳng lúc nào rảnh tay. (She works continuously, never having a free moment / never being unoccupied.)
  • Rảnh tay lúc nào là giở sách ra học. (Whenever I have free time, I open a book to study.)

Advanced Usage

• "được rảnh tay": to finally get a break; to manage to have some free time.
  • Cuối tuần này tôi mới được rảnh tay. (I won't get a break / have free time until this weekend.)
• "rảnh tay rảnh chân": (idiomatic expression) to be completely free and unburdened, with both hands and feet free; to be completely at leisure.
  • Nghỉ hè, bọn trẻ rảnh tay rảnh chân suốt ngày. (During summer break, the kids are completely free all day long.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rảnh (adj): Free, not busy. A more general term for having free time.
  • Anh ấy có rảnh không? (Is he free?)
• Rảnh rỗi (adj): Idle, at leisure, having nothing to do. Emphasizes having ample free time.
  • Thời gian rảnh rỗi (free time / leisure time)

Synonyms

• Nhàn hạ: Leisurely, carefree (often implying a more relaxed, less pressured state).
• Thảnh thơi: Carefree, relaxed, without worries.
• Không bận việc: Not busy with work.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: As 'rảnh tay' is an adjective phrase, it does not have phrasal verb forms. This section lists common verb phrases used to express becoming free.) - Có thời gian rảnh: To have free time. - Tuần sau tôi sẽ có thời gian rảnh. (I will have free time next week.) - Xong việc: To finish work/tasks (implies becoming free). - Tôi sẽ gọi cho bạn khi tôi xong việc. (I will call you when I finish my work.)

Related Idioms

• "Rảnh như nhộng": (Simile) As free as a silkworm chrysalis; meaning completely free with nothing to do. (Note: 'Nhộng' refers to a pupa, which is inactive.)
  • Nghỉ hè, bọn trẻ ở nhà rảnh như nhộng. (During summer break, the kids at home have absolutely nothing to do.)
• "Rỗi tay": (Less common variant) Having free hands; idle. Similar in meaning to 'rảnh tay'.
  • Làm cho xong việc để còn rỗi tay. (Finish the work so we can have free hands / be done.)

1. to have free hands