Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Rickety, dilapidated, or in a state of disrepair: Describes an object, typically a structure or piece of furniture, that is old, weak, shaky, and makes noise when used due to loose parts or poor condition.
   • Flabby, loose, or sagging: Can describe something soft that lacks firmness and moves loosely or sloppishly, like certain materials or flesh.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cái ghế này xệu xạo quá, ngồi sợ gãy. (This chair is too rickety; I'm afraid it will break if I sit on it.)
  • Cầu thang xệu xạo kêu cót két. (The dilapidated stairs creak.)
  • Miếng thịt sau khi luộc trở nên xệu xạo. (The piece of meat became flabby after boiling.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is often used to evoke a sensory impression, combining the visual state of disrepair with the auditory suggestion of creaking or shuffling noises it makes.

Variants and Related Words

• Rệu rạo (adj): A near-synonymous variant with the same meaning of rickety or dilapidated.
  • Cánh cửa rệu rạo sắp hỏng. (The rickety door is about to break.)

Synonyms

• Rickety: Likely to fall apart; shaky.
• Dilapidated: In a state of disrepair or ruin.
• Flabby: Soft, loose, and lacking firmness.

Related Idioms

• While "xệu xạo" itself is not commonly part of fixed idioms, it is descriptive and often used in phrases depicting poor condition, such as "" (rickety belongings).