tẻo

Mẹ cho em bé một tẻo bánh mì.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Very small / tiny: Used to describe an extremely small quantity, size, or degree of something. It is often synonymous with "a tiny bit" or "a little bit."
   • Insignificant / negligible: Refers to something so small it is almost unimportant or not worth considering.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Chỉ còn một tẻo đường thôi. (There's only a tiny bit of sugar left.)
  • Cô ấy chỉ ăn một tẻo cơm. (She only ate a tiny bit of rice.)
  • Sự khác biệt là nhỏ tẻo. (The difference is negligible.)

Advanced Usage

• "tẻo tẹo": A reduplicative form that emphasizes extreme smallness or minuteness.
  • Anh ấy cho tôi một miếng bánh tẻo tẹo. (He gave me a minuscule piece of cake.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tẹo (adj): A common variant with identical meaning: a very small amount.
  • Đợi tôi một tẹo nhé. (Wait for me just a little bit.)

Synonyms

• Tiny: extremely small.
• Minuscule: exceedingly small.
• Negligible: so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering.

Notes on Usage

• The word "tẻo" is often used in colloquial, informal Northern Vietnamese speech. It is less common in formal writing.
• It typically follows a noun or quantity word (e.g., - a tiny bit) to indicate a very small amount.
• The variant "tẹo" is more frequently used in everyday language with the same meaning.