tồ

Một người đàn ông tồ vụng về làm đổ một chồng sách.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Clumsy and simple-minded: Describes a person, often an adult or someone of large stature, who is awkward, unskillful, and somewhat foolish or naive in their actions or demeanor.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ta trông cao lớn nhưng lại rất tồ. (He looks tall and big but is very clumsy and simple-minded.)
  • Đừng có tồ mà tin lời người lạ. (Don't be so simple-minded as to trust strangers' words.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "tồ" is often used in a mildly derogatory or teasing manner to criticize someone's lack of street smarts or grace, despite their physical appearance suggesting otherwise (e.g., being an adult or large in size).

Variants and Related Words

• Tồ tẹ (adj): An intensified or more colloquial form of "tồ", emphasizing even greater clumsiness or foolishness.
  • Cậu ấy làm việc gì cũng tồ tẹ. (He does everything in a clumsy and foolish way.)

Synonyms

• Clumsy: Lacking grace or skill in movement or action.
• Simple-minded: Lacking subtlety or intelligence; naive.
• Awkward: Causing difficulty; hard to handle or deal with.

Related Idioms

• Tồ như bò: As clumsy/simple as an ox. A simile emphasizing extreme clumsiness or lack of sophistication.
  • Nó to xác mà tồ như bò. (He has a big body but is as clumsy as an ox.)