Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Cross-legged (in a specific, asymmetrical way): Describes a sitting or lying posture where one leg is bent and the foot is placed on or over the thigh of the opposite leg. It implies a casual, often careless or contorted, manner of crossing the legs, not the formal, symmetrical "sitting cross-legged" posture.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ta ngồi tréo khoeo trên ghế, chân nọ gác lên đùi kia. (He sat cross-legged on the chair in a contorted way, one foot resting on the opposite thigh.)
  • Đừng nằm tréo khoeo như thế, mất lịch sự lắm. (Don't lie there with your legs crossed like that; it's very impolite.)
  • Bọn trẻ ngồi tréo khoeo dưới sàn nghe bà kể chuyện. (The children sat in a casual, cross-legged manner on the floor listening to their grandmother tell a story.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase "nằm tréo khoeo" is a very common collocation specifically describing lying down in this asymmetrical, cross-legged posture.
• The word often carries a connotation of being too relaxed, sloppy, or lacking in proper decorum, especially in formal settings.

Variants and Related Words

• Tréo chân (v/phr): to cross one's legs. This is a more general term for crossing legs and does not specify the asymmetrical "tréo khoeo" style.
  • Cô ấy ngồi tréo chân một cách thanh lịch. (She sat with her legs crossed elegantly.)

Synonyms

• Asymmetrically cross-legged: Describes the uneven, one-leg-over-thigh position.
• Contorted (leg position): Suggests a twisted or careless way of crossing limbs.

Related Idioms

• While not a standalone idiom, the posture "tréo khoeo" is often invoked in descriptions of informal, lazy, or disrespectful behavior, contrasting with formal, upright sitting postures.