Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Unwatchful, inattentive: Describes a state of being careless, not paying close attention, or failing to keep a proper watch over something.
   • Neglectful: Failing to give proper care or attention to a responsibility, leading to a loss or mistake.

2. Verb (colloquial):

   • To let slip, to lose through carelessness: To accidentally allow something that was in one's grasp or control to escape or be lost due to a lapse in attention.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Anh ta thật sểnh, để khách tự tìm đường. (He was so inattentive, letting the guest find their own way.)
  • Một phút sểnh cảnh giác có thể dẫn đến hậu quả nghiêm trọng. (A single moment of unwatchfulness can lead to serious consequences.)

• Verb:

  • Đừng để sểnh tên tù nhân đó! (Don't let that prisoner slip away!)
  • Cô ấy sểnh mất cơ hội việc làm vì đến muộn. (She let the job opportunity slip because she was late.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "sểnh" is often used in its verb sense and is frequently paired with "mất" (to lose) to form the phrase "sểnh mất", which strongly emphasizes the loss resulting from carelessness.
  • Chỉ một giây sểnh mắt là đứa bé đã sểnh mất. (Just a second of taking my eyes off it and the child was gone.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sơ ý (adj): Negligent, inadvertent. This is a close synonym but is more formal and often used in written contexts.
  • Đó là một sai sót do sơ ý. (It was a mistake due to negligence.)

Synonyms

• Inattentive: Not paying attention.
• Careless: Not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors.
• Negligent: Failing to take proper care in doing something.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Sểnh mắt: Literally "to have an unwatchful eye"; to take one's eyes off something/someone for a moment.

  • Mẹ sểnh mắt một cái, con đã leo lên bàn. (The mother took her eyes off the child for a second, and he had climbed onto the table.)

• Sểnh ra: To become lax or inattentive; to let one's guard down.

  • Công việc này đòi hỏi sự tập trung, không được sểnh ra. (This job requires concentration; you must not let your attention wander.)

adj

1. unwatchful, neglectful