trẹt

Một chiếc đĩa trẹt đựng vài quả dâu tây.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Shallow and flat: Describes an object, typically a dish, bowl, or container, that has a very low depth relative to its width; flat-bottomed.
   • Flattened: Can describe something that is physically pressed or squashed, becoming flatter than its original form.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cái đĩa này trẹt quá, nước canh dễ tràn. (This plate is too shallow; the soup will easily spill.)
  • Mua cái bát trẹt lòng để đựng xôi. (Buy a flat-bottomed bowl to hold sticky rice.)
  • Sau tai nạn, cái hộp bị trẹt một bên. (After the accident, the box was flattened on one side.)

Advanced Usage

• "trẹt lòng": A common compound meaning specifically "flat-bottomed" or "shallow (in depth)".

  • Chảo trẹt lòng thích hợp để chiên trứng. (A shallow flat-bottomed pan is suitable for frying eggs.)

• "trèn trẹt": A reduplicated form (lặp láy) that softens the meaning to "rather flat" or "somewhat flattened".

  • Cái nón bị trèn trẹt, mất dáng rồi. (The conical hat is rather flattened and has lost its shape.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dẹt (adj): Flat, squashed. Often used interchangeably in some contexts, though "dẹt" more strongly implies being crushed.
• Nông (adj): Shallow. Used more for depth of water, containers, or abstract concepts, whereas "trẹt" emphasizes the flat, shallow shape of an object.

Synonyms

• Shallow: Having little depth.
• Flat-bottomed: Having a flat base with low sides.
• Flattened: Made flat by pressure.

Related Idioms

• (Nói) trẹt lét: To speak bluntly or flatly; to state something in a very direct, uncompromising manner.
  • Anh ta từ chối trẹt lét, không một lời giải thích. (He refused point-blank, without a word of explanation.)