tồng ngồng
Definition
Adjective:
- Stark naked, completely nude: Used primarily to describe a young child, especially a boy, who is completely undressed and whose private parts are exposed.
- Unabashedly bare, shamelessly exposed: Emphasizes the state of being naked without any attempt to cover oneself, often implying a lack of modesty or awareness due to young age.
Adjective (extended usage):
- All grown up (but still childish): In the phrase "lớn tồng ngồng," it describes someone, usually a boy or young man, who is physically big or tall for their age but remains immature in behavior.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Đứa bé chạy tồng ngồng ra sân. (The child ran out into the yard stark naked.)
- Con trai tôi năm nay đã lớn tồng ngồng rồi. (My son is all grown up now [but still acts like a child].)
Advanced Usage
- "lớn tồng ngồng": To be big/tall for one's age (often implying lingering childishness).
- Nó mới mười tuổi mà đã cao lớn tồng ngồng. (He's only ten but is already tall and big for his age.)
Variants and Related Words
- Ở truồng (v): to be naked, to go bare. This is a more general term for being nude.
- Trời nóng quá, bọn trẻ thích ở truồng. (It's so hot, the kids like to be naked.)
Synonyms
- Stark naked: Completely without clothing.
- In the nude: A more formal term for being naked.
- Bare, exposed: Uncovered.
Related Idioms
- Ở truồng tồng ngồng: An emphatic idiom combining "ở truồng" (to be naked) and "tồng ngồng" for strong emphasis on complete, shameless nudity.
- Lên sáu rồi mà còn ở truồng tồng ngồng. (He's already six years old but still runs around stark naked.)