Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Incessant, droning: Describes a sound, typically a voice or noise, that is continuous, monotonous, repetitive, and often perceived as annoying or unpleasant. It emphasizes an unbroken, persistent quality.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tiếng ve kêu ra rả suốt mùa hè. (The cicadas' chirping is incessant all summer.)
  • Anh ấy nói ra rả cả giờ đồng hồ mà không ngừng. (He talked droningly for a whole hour without stopping.)
  • Tiếng mưa rơi ra rả trên mái tôn. (The rain fell incessantly on the tin roof.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "ra rả" is primarily used as an adverb following verbs like (to call, to make sound), (to speak), (to cry), or (to fall) to describe the manner of the action. It functions adjectivally in these constructions to modify the nature of the sound.
  • Cô giáo giảng bài một cách ra rả. (The teacher lectured in a droning manner.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lảm nhảm (v): to babble, to ramble on (focuses more on meaningless or annoying speech rather than the continuous sound quality).
• Đều đều (adj): steady, regular, monotonous (can describe sound or rhythm, less negative than "ra rả").

Synonyms

• Incessant: continuing without pause or interruption.
• Monotonous: lacking in variety; tediously uniform.
• Droning: making a continuous low, dull sound like a bee; speaking in a boring, monotonous tone.

Related Idioms

• Nói như máy (lit. to talk like a machine): to talk non-stop and mechanically, similar to speaking "ra rả."
  • Đừng có nói như máy nữa! (Stop talking like a machine!)

adj

1. incessant, draning