tòng tọc
Definition
- Adjective (informal, often humorous or derogatory):
- In a dilapidated, rickety, or shabby state: Describes an object, typically a vehicle or machine, that is old, worn-out, and makes noise or functions poorly, often held together precariously.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Chiếc xe máy đó tòng tọc lắm, sắp hỏng rồi. (That motorbike is so rickety; it's about to break down.)
- Cái máy tính cũ chạy tòng tọc. (The old computer runs in a clunky, broken-down way.)
- Đừng đi chiếc xe đạp tòng tọc ấy nữa. (Don't ride that dilapidated bicycle anymore.)
Advanced Usage
- The word is often used to imply not just physical decay but also a noisy, shaky, and unreliable manner of operation. It can personify the object, suggesting it is struggling to function.
Variants and Related Words
- Lọc cọc (adj): An onomatopoeic synonym describing a similar clattering, bumpy, and rickety state or sound.
- Xe bò đi lọc cọc trên đường. (The ox cart moved bumpily down the road.)
Synonyms
- Rickety: Likely to fall apart; shaky.
- Dilapidated: In a state of disrepair or ruin.
- Ramshackle: Badly made or cared for and likely to collapse.
- Clunky: Making a series of loud, heavy, awkward noises while operating.
Related Idioms and Expressions
- While "tòng tọc" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is commonly used in the pattern "chạy tòng tọc" (to run/operate in a rickety way) to emphasize the poor functioning of a machine or vehicle.
- Chiếc xe chạy tòng tọc cả quãng đường. (The car ran ricketily the whole way.)