Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Jocular; humorous in a silly or playful way: Describes a person, manner, or statement that is intentionally funny, lighthearted, and not serious.
   • Farcical; absurdly or ridiculously optimistic: Describes an attitude or perspective that is unrealistically cheerful or hopeful, often ignoring practical realities.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy có tính tếu. (He has a jocular personality.)
  • Đó chỉ là một câu nói tếu thôi. (That was just a jocular remark.)
  • Anh ấy lạc quan tếu về kết quả. (He is absurdly optimistic about the result.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "tếu" is often used to gently criticize an idea or attitude as being naively cheerful or unserious, based more on personal whim than on fact.
  • Lập luận đó nghe có vẻ tếu. (That argument sounds rather hare-brained.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lạc quan tếu (adj phrase): Farcically optimistic; foolishly hopeful.
  • Kế hoạch của họ dựa trên sự lạc quan tếu. (Their plan is based on foolish optimism.)

Synonyms

• Jocular: Characterized by joking.
• Farcical: Ridiculously absurd.
• Hare-brained: Foolish; impractical.

Related Idioms

• Nói tếu: To speak jokingly; to make a lighthearted, non-serious comment.
  • Đừng giận, tôi chỉ đang nói tếu. (Don't be angry, I was just speaking in jest.)

adj

1. rash, joculous, hare-brained