trống hổng
Definition
- Adjective:
- Completely hollow or empty through and through: Describes an object, space, or structure that is vacant or has a void extending entirely from one side to the other, often implying a noticeable, unobstructed emptiness.
- Having a gap or void: Indicates a state where something is missing or absent, creating a sense of incompleteness or a literal hole.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cái hang này trống hổng, gió thổi xuyên qua được. (This cave is completely hollow; the wind blows right through it.)
- Bức tường bị đục một lỗ trống hổng. (The wall has a hole that goes right through it.)
- Sau khi dọn đi, căn phòng trống hổng. (After moving out, the room was utterly empty.)
Advanced Usage
- Used metaphorically to describe knowledge, plans, or arguments that have significant, fundamental gaps or deficiencies.
- Kế hoạch của họ còn trống hổng nhiều chi tiết quan trọng. (Their plan has many critical details missing.)
Variants and Related Words
- Trống rỗng (adj): empty, vacant (often used for emotional or spiritual emptiness, but can also be physical).
- Cảm giác trống rỗng. (A feeling of emptiness.)
- Hổng (adj): colloquial term for having a gap or being deficient in knowledge.
- Kiến thức bị hổng. (To have gaps in one's knowledge.)
Synonyms
- Hollow: having a hole or empty space inside.
- Empty: containing nothing.
- Gaping: wide open, often describing a hole.
Related Idioms
- Trống huếch trống hoác: an idiom emphasizing a state of being very empty, bare, or deserted (often more exaggerated than "trống hổng").
- Nhà cửa trống huếch trống hoác. (The house is completely bare and deserted.)