Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Slightly trembling, shaky, quavering: Describes a state of slight, often rapid, trembling or shaking, typically due to cold, fear, emotion, weakness, or old age. It is a reduplicative form (láy) of "run," intensifying the meaning to convey a continuous, slight, and noticeable tremor.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Giọng nói của bà cụ nghe run run vì xúc động. (The old woman's voice sounded quavering with emotion.)
  • Anh ấy cầm tờ giấy bằng bàn tay run run. (He held the paper with a slightly trembling hand.)
  • Trời lạnh khiến mọi người đứng run run. (The cold weather made everyone stand shivering.)

Advanced Usage

• "run run" as an adverb: While primarily an adjective, it can describe the manner of a verb.
  • Cành cây khẽ rung run run trong gió. (The branch shook ever so slightly in the wind.)

Variants and Related Words

• Run (động từ/verb): to tremble, to shake.
  • Anh ta run vì sợ hãi. (He trembled with fear.)
• Run rẩy (tính từ/adjective): trembling, shaking (often implies a more intense or fearful state than "run run").
  • Cô ấy run rẩy khi nghe tin. (She was trembling upon hearing the news.)
• Lập cập (tính từ/adjective): shaky, unsteady (often used for legs or walking due to weakness or age).
  • Ông lão bước đi lập cập. (The old man walked with shaky steps.)

Synonyms

• Hơi run: slightly trembling.
• Rung rung: quivering, vibrating slightly.
• Lắc lư nhẹ: swaying gently.

Related Idioms

• Run như cầy sấy: To tremble violently (like a leaf). This idiom denotes a much stronger, more visible tremor compared to the slight shiver of "run run."
  • Nghe tiếng sét, nó run như cầy sấy. (Hearing the thunder, he trembled like a leaf.)

1. xem run (láy)