Definition

1. Verb:
   • To be intermingled / To be intermixed: Refers to two or more different things being mixed together in a way that they are not separate or distinct, often creating a combined or blended state.
   • To be interspersed: Indicates that elements of one thing are scattered or placed among elements of another, occurring here and there within it.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Trong bài phát biểu, sự nghiêm túc xen lẫn những lời đùa. (In the speech, seriousness is intermingled with jokes.)
  • Mùi hương của hoa nhài xen lẫn với mùi cà phê. (The scent of jasmine is intermixed with the smell of coffee.)
  • Những ngôi nhà hiện đại xen lẫn với những ngôi nhà cổ. (Modern houses are interspersed with ancient houses.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe abstract qualities or feelings:
  • Cảm xúc của cô ấy là sự vui mừng xen lẫn lo lắng. (Her emotion was joy intermingled with worry.)

Variants and Related Words

• Xen kẽ (v): To alternate, to occur in turns.

  • Các tiết mục hát và múa xen kẽ nhau. (The singing and dancing performances alternate with each other.)

• Xen vào (v): To interject, to insert oneself or one's comments into a conversation or situation.

  • Anh ấy thường xen vào câu chuyện của người khác. (He often interjects into other people's conversations.)

Synonyms

• Intermingled: Mixed together.
• Intermixed: Blended together.
• Interspersed: Scattered among.

Related Idioms

• Xen lẫn tơi bời: (Less common) To be chaotically mixed or jumbled together.
  • Đồ đạc trong phòng để xen lẫn tơi bời. (The items in the room were chaotically jumbled together.)