thiệp liệp
Definition
- Adjective (Archaic):
- Superficial / cursory / perfunctory: Describes knowledge, study, or engagement with a subject that is shallow, brief, and lacks depth or thoroughness. It implies a mere skimming of the surface.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Ông ấy chỉ có sự hiểu biết thiệp liệp về triết học. (He only has a superficial understanding of philosophy.)
- Đừng đọc thiệp liệp, hãy nghiên cứu kỹ lưỡng. (Don't read cursorily; study thoroughly.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is primarily found in classical or literary Vietnamese and is rarely used in modern everyday conversation. It often carries a slightly critical tone towards the inadequacy of the knowledge or effort.
Variants and Related Words
- Qua loa (adj): perfunctory, slapdash. (Modern synonym)
- Sơ sài (adj): sketchy, crude, lacking detail.
- Hời hợt (adj): superficial, shallow (often regarding emotions or relationships).
Synonyms
- Superficial: concerned only with the obvious or apparent.
- Cursory: hasty and therefore not thorough.
- Perfunctory: carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection.
Related Idioms
- Cưỡi ngựa xem hoa: (lit. to view flowers while on horseback) – to do something in a rushed and superficial manner, similar to a cursory glance.
- Việc học của nó như cưỡi ngựa xem hoa, toàn là thiệp liệp. (His studying is like viewing flowers from horseback—entirely superficial.)