Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Well-dressed / Dressed up: Describes a person who is wearing smart, neat, or elegant clothes, often to look impressive.
   • Spruced up / Dapper: Refers to a very tidy, trim, and carefully groomed appearance.

2. Adverb:

   • In a showy or smart manner: Describes the act of dressing or presenting oneself in a stylish, attention-grabbing way.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Cậu ấy ăn mặc xênh xang để đi dự tiệc. (He is well-dressed to attend the party.)
  • Trông anh ta thật xênh xang trong bộ vest mới. (He looks so dapper in his new suit.)

• Adverb:

  • Cô ấy bước vào phòng một cách xênh xang. (She entered the room in a showy manner.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often carries a connotation of dressing up with a degree of pride, showiness, or formality, sometimes to the point of being slightly ostentatious.

Variants and Related Words

• Xênh xang is a reduplicative word. Its base form is not commonly used independently in modern Vietnamese.
• Chải chuốt (v/phr): to groom oneself meticulously.
  • Anh ấy chải chuốt rất lâu trước khi ra ngoài. (He groomed himself for a long time before going out.)

Synonyms

• Well-dressed: wearing attractive, good-quality clothes.
• Dapper: neat and trim in dress and appearance (typically of a man).
• Spruced up: made neat, smart, or tidy in appearance.

Related Idioms

• Ăn mặc xênh xang: to dress up smartly.
  • Mọi người đều ăn mặc xênh xang cho buổi lễ. (Everyone dressed up smartly for the ceremony.)