tầm phơ
Definition
- Adjective:
- Vain / pointless / frivolous: Describes something that lacks serious purpose, value, or importance; something trivial or insignificant.
- Idle / aimless: Refers to actions, talk, or matters that are without meaningful direction or objective.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Đừng quan tâm đến những chuyện tầm phơ ấy. (Don't pay attention to those pointless matters.)
- Anh ấy suốt ngày nói những lời tầm phơ. (He spends all day saying idle words.)
- Cuộc tranh cãi đó hoàn toàn tầm phơ. (That argument was completely frivolous.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "tầm phơ" often carries a dismissive or slightly contemptuous tone, used to brush aside something considered a waste of time or attention.
- It is typically used to modify abstract nouns like stories, talk, matters, or reasons ().
Variants and Related Words
- Tầm phào (adj): A less common variant with the same meaning of frivolous or trivial.
- Lời hứa tầm phào. (An empty/frivolous promise.)
Synonyms
- Vain: producing no result; useless.
- Trivial: of little value or importance.
- Frivolous: not having any serious purpose or value.
- Idle: without purpose or effect; pointless.
Related Idioms
- Chuyện tầm phơ: a trivial/pointless story or matter. This is the most common collocation.
- Cả buổi họp chỉ bàn toàn chuyện tầm phơ. (The entire meeting was only about trivial matters.)