xiêu xọ
Definition
- Adjective:
- Leaning and dilapidated; rickety and run-down: Describes a structure, such as a building or house, that is both tilting or leaning to one side and in a severe state of disrepair, decay, or collapse.
- Precarious; unstable: Can describe something that is physically or figuratively unsteady, shaky, or on the verge of falling apart.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Căn nhà cũ xiêu xọ vì bão. (The old house was rickety and run-down because of the storm.)
- Chiếc bàn xiêu xọ sắp đổ. (The wobbly table is about to collapse.)
- Tình hình tài chính của họ khá xiêu xọ. (Their financial situation is quite precarious.)
Advanced Usage
- Used to emphasize a state of near-complete ruin or collapse, often invoking a sense of neglect or the destructive power of time or elements.
Variants and Related Words
- Xiêu vẹo (adj): crooked, askew, leaning. Often used interchangeably with "xiêu xọ" but may imply less severe dilapidation.
- Cột cờ bị bão làm xiêu vẹo. (The flagpole was left crooked by the storm.)
- Đổ nát (adj): ruined, demolished, in ruins. Focuses more on the state of destruction rather than the leaning aspect.
Synonyms
- Dilapidated: In a state of disrepair or ruin.
- Rickety: Weak and likely to collapse.
- Ramshackle: In a state of severe disrepair.
- Precarious: Not securely held; dangerously unstable.
Related Idioms
- Xiêu lòng: To be swayed (emotionally or in opinion); to have one's heart or resolve shaken. (Note: This is a separate idiom related to emotion, not physical state.)
- Cô ấy xiêu lòng trước lời cầu hôn. (Her heart was swayed by the proposal.)