teo

Thân thiện

Chân của người bệnh teo lại vì không vận động.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To shrink extremely, to wither, to atrophy: To become significantly smaller, thinner, or weaker, often due to loss of moisture, disease, or lack of use. It implies a state of being shriveled, withered, or atrophied.
   • To be utterly/become completely: An intensifier used colloquially before an adjective to mean "extremely," "completely," or "absolutely," often with a negative connotation.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to shrink):
  • Trái cây để lâu ngoài không khí sẽ bị teo. (Fruit left out in the air for a long time will shrivel.)
  • Cơ bắp không vận động sẽ teo dần. (Muscles that are not used will gradually atrophy.)
• Intensifier (utterly):
  • Căn phòng vắng teo, không một bóng người. (The room was completely deserted, without a soul in sight.)
  • Nghe tin đó, lòng tôi buồn teo. (Hearing that news, my heart felt utterly sad.)

Advanced Usage

• "teo tóp": To be extremely shriveled or emaciated.
  • Bàn tay ông lão teo tóp vì tuổi già. (The old man's hands were withered from old age.)

Variants and Related Words

• Teo đi (verb phrase): To shrink away, to diminish.
  • Niềm hy vọng teo đi theo từng ngày. (Hope diminished with each passing day.)
• Teo cơ (noun): Muscle atrophy (medical term).

Synonyms

• Shrink: To become smaller.
• Atrophy: To waste away, especially from lack of use (for body tissue).
• Wither: To become dry and shriveled.
• Completely/Utterly: Totally, absolutely (as an intensifier).

Related Idioms

• Teo gan: (Literally: liver shrinks) To be extremely frightened, to be scared stiff.
  • Nhìn thấy cảnh đó, nó teo gan không dám nói gì. (Seeing that scene, he was scared stiff and didn't dare say a word.)

Học thuật

verb

1. to shrink extremely, utterly