Definition

1. Adjective / Adverb:
   • Dawdling, dragging, trailing: Moving or progressing very slowly, often in a way that seems sluggish, unhurried, or lacking energy, as if being dragged along.
   • Slowly, at a snail's pace: Emphasizes an excessively slow and prolonged manner of action.

Usage Examples

• Adjective / Adverb:
  • Đi rề rề như thế thì bao giờ đến nơi. (If you keep dawdling like that, when will we ever arrive?)
  • Đoàn người di chuyển rề rề trên con đường đất. (The procession moved slowly along the dirt road.)
  • Công việc tiến triển rề rề khiến mọi người sốt ruột. (The work is progressing at a snail's pace, making everyone impatient.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe not just physical movement but also the slow progress of abstract things like work, time, or processes.
  • Thời gian trôi rề rề trong buổi chiều mưa. (Time dragged on slowly on the rainy afternoon.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rề rà (adj/adv): Similar meaning of being slow, dragging, or procrastinating. Often implies being delayed by trivial details or excuses.
  • Đừng rề rà nữa, chúng ta muộn rồi. (Stop dawdling; we're late.)

Synonyms

• Slowly: At a low speed.
• Sluggishly: Moving slowly with little energy.
• At a crawl: Moving very slowly.
• Lingeringly: Prolonging an action unnecessarily.

Related Idioms

• Rề rề như rùa: As slow as a turtle. A simile emphasizing extreme slowness.
  • Nó lái xe rề rề như rùa. (He drives as slow as a turtle.)

1. Dawdling, dragging, trailing
   • Đi rề rề như thế thì bao giờ đến nơi
     When will you arrive if you trail (drag) your feet like that