Definition

1. Adjective (Descriptive word):
   • Immobile; motionless: Describes a state of sitting or staying completely still, without moving or fidgeting.
   • Impassive; unresponsive: Describes a person who appears dull, unfeeling, or indifferent, showing no reaction.
   • Foolishly impassive; blankly stupid: Often used in a reduplicative form to describe a state of being both foolishly blank and unmoving.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Nó ngồi trích trích một chỗ cả buổi. (He sat immobile in one spot the whole afternoon.)
  • Mọi người đều xúc động, chỉ có nó là trơ ra, trích trích. (Everyone was moved, only he remained impassive and unresponsive.)
  • Cái bộ mặt trích trích tri tri của hắn thật đáng ghét. (His foolishly blank and impassive face was truly annoying.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is primarily used in its reduplicative form "trích trích tri tri" (sometimes seen as "trích trích tri tri" or similar). This four-syllable idiom intensifies the meaning, strongly conveying a sense of being utterly stupid, blank, and unresponsive.
  • Khéo thay trích trích tri tri nực cười. (How remarkably, blankly stupid and laughable.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trơ trơ (adj): blank, impassive, thick-skinned.
• Ngây ngô (adj): naive, simple-minded.
• Bất động (adj): motionless, immobile.

Synonyms

• Immobile
• Impassive
• Unresponsive
• Blank
• Stolid

Notes on Usage

• "Trích trích" is an archaic and literary word. It is very rarely used in modern everyday conversation.
• It is most commonly encountered in classical Vietnamese poetry or satirical writings (like the example from poet Nguyễn Khuyến) to criticize someone's dullness or lack of reaction.
• Its meaning is almost always negative, implying criticism, mockery, or disdain for the subject's lack of animation or intelligence.