Definition

Adverb: Describes a gentle, gradual, and smooth slope or incline. It emphasizes a lack of steepness.

Usage

• Thoai thoải is used to describe the nature of a slope, hill, or incline. It indicates that the rise is very gradual and easy to navigate.
• It functions as an adverb, typically following the noun it describes.

Examples

• Con đường lên đồi thoai thoải, rất dễ đi. (The road up the hill has a gentle slope, very easy to walk.)
• Sườn núi phía nam thoai thoải hơn phía bắc. (The southern mountainside slopes more gently than the northern one.)
• Mái nhà được thiết kế thoai thoải để thoát nước mưa. (The roof is designed with a gentle slope for rainwater drainage.)

Advanced Usage

• Thoai thoải can sometimes be used metaphorically to describe a gradual, non-abrupt change or transition, though this is less common.
  • Sự nghiệp của anh ấy đi lên một cách thoai thoải. (His career progressed in a steady, gradual manner.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thoải (adj/adv): The root word, also meaning gentle or sloping. Thoai thoải is the reduplicated form, which often adds a sense of being "nicely" or "pleasantly" gradual.
• Dốc thoai thoải (phrase): A gentle slope/incline.
• Dốc đứng (adj): Steep, vertical (antonym).
• Dốc dác (adj): Quite steep.

Synonyms

• Từ từ (adv): Slowly, gradually (more general, not specific to terrain).
• Êm ái (adj): Smooth, gentle (often for surfaces or feelings, not specifically for slopes).

Antonyms

• Dốc đứng (adj): Vertical, sheer.
• Dựng đứng (adj): Standing straight up, very steep.
• Gấp khúc (adj): Abrupt, sharply angled.

adv

1. slopingly