Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Ragged, tattered: Describes something, typically fabric or clothing, that is torn into many pieces or strips, presenting a very damaged and untidy appearance.
   • Shattered, routed, in complete disarray: Describes a group, formation, or entity that has been utterly defeated, broken apart, and scattered, losing all organization.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Sau trận bão, những lá cờ bay tả tơi trên cột. (After the storm, the flags fluttered in tatters on the pole.)
  • Đội quân địch đã bị đánh cho tả tơi. (The enemy army was utterly routed.)
  • Chiếc áo cũ của anh ấy trông thật tả tơi. (His old shirt looks completely ragged.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often conveys a sense of pitiful, disastrous, or complete destruction. It is stronger than simply "rách" (torn) and implies a state of being torn to shreds or completely broken apart.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe non-physical states that are similarly devastated or scattered.
  • Kế hoạch của họ tan tả tơi sau cuộc họp. (Their plan fell to pieces after the meeting.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tơi tả (adj): An alternative form with the same meaning and usage as "tả tơi".
  • Cơn bão làm căn nhà tơi tả. (The storm left the house in shreds.)

Synonyms

• Ragged / Tattered: For describing torn physical objects.
• Shattered / Routed / Decimated: For describing defeated or scattered groups.
• In disarray / In tatters: For describing a state of complete disorder or destruction.

Related Idioms

• Nát tả tơi: To be smashed or crushed to pieces.
  • Chiếc xe bị va chạm nát tả tơi. (The car was smashed to pieces in the collision.)
• Tan tả tơi: To be completely dissolved or disbanded.
  • Giấc mơ của nó tan tả tơi. (His dream was shattered to bits.)

adj

1. ragged. to shreds