tẹp nhẹp
Definition
- Adjective:
- Petty, trivial, insignificant: Describes matters, actions, or characteristics that are of little importance, value, or scale. It often carries a negative connotation of being overly concerned with minor details.
- Small-minded, mean-spirited: Refers to a narrow, ungenerous, or selfish character or attitude.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Đừng quan tâm đến những chuyện tẹp nhẹp đó. (Don't pay attention to those petty matters.)
- Tính nết anh ta thật tẹp nhẹp. (His character is truly small-minded.)
- Cuộc cãi vã này hoàn toàn tẹp nhẹp. (This argument is completely trivial.)
Advanced Usage
- The word is often used in a dismissive or critical tone to belittle the subject being discussed, emphasizing its lack of worth or seriousness.
Variants and Related Words
- Tẹp (adj): Can be used alone to mean "flat" or "squashed," but when combined with "nhẹp," the meaning shifts entirely to the figurative sense of pettiness.
Synonyms
- Petty: Of little importance; trivial.
- Trivial: Of little value or importance.
- Insignificant: Too small or unimportant to be worth consideration.
- Small-minded: Having a narrow or selfish perspective.
Related Idioms
- While "tẹp nhẹp" itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, it is commonly used in phrases like "chuyện tẹp nhẹp" (petty/trivial stories) or "tính tẹp nhẹp" (a petty character) to concretely express the concept.