Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Negligent, inattentive, careless: Describes a state of lacking proper attention, consideration, or care, often leading to unintended mistakes or oversights.
   • Unintentional, inadvertent: Refers to an action or mistake that happens not by design but due to a lapse in attention or care.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tôi thật sơ ý khi để quên chìa khóa trong xe. (I was truly negligent/careless when I left the keys in the car.)
  • Chỉ vì một phút sơ ý, anh ấy đã làm đổ cả ly nước. (Due to a moment of inattention, he spilled the entire glass of water.)
  • Lỗi này hoàn toàn do sơ ý, không phải cố ý. (This mistake was completely unintentional, not deliberate.)

Advanced Usage

• "do sơ ý" / "bởi sơ ý": due to carelessness, because of negligence.
  • Vụ tai nạn xảy ra do sơ ý của tài xế. (The accident happened due to the driver's negligence.)
• "một sự sơ ý": an act of negligence/carelessness (used as a noun phrase).
  • Một sự sơ ý nhỏ cũng có thể dẫn đến hậu quả lớn. (A small act of carelessness can also lead to major consequences.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sơ suất (n/adj): Negligence, oversight; negligent. A close synonym, often used interchangeably with .
  • Anh ta bị khiển trách vì sơ suất trong công việc. (He was reprimanded for negligence in his work.)
• Cẩu thả (adj): Sloppy, slapdash. Implies a more habitual or severe lack of care than .
• Thiếu cẩn thận (adj phrase): Not careful, incautious. A descriptive phrase with a similar meaning.

Synonyms

• Bất cẩn: Inattentive, incautious.
• Không chú ý: Not paying attention.
• Vô ý: Unintentional, inadvertent (often used for minor oversights).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Sơ ý tắc tử" (idiom, literary): A moment of inattention can lead to death. Emphasizes the potentially grave consequences of carelessness.
  • Lái xe đường dài phải hết sức tập trung, sơ ý tắc tử đấy. (When driving long distances, you must be extremely focused; a moment's carelessness can be fatal.)
• "Nói sơ ý": To speak carelessly/unintentionally.
  • Xin lỗi, tôi chỉ nói sơ ý thôi. (I'm sorry, I just spoke carelessly/unthinkingly.)

adj

1. negligent, inattentive