xoàng
Definition
Adjective:
- Mediocre; ordinary; average: Describes something of only moderate or low quality, lacking in excellence or distinction.
- Simple; plain; modest: Describes something that is unpretentious, basic, or frugal, often without adornment or luxury.
Adverb:
- In a mediocre or so-so manner: Used to describe an action performed in an average, unimpressive, or just-adequate way.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Chất lượng sản phẩm này khá xoàng. (The quality of this product is quite mediocre.)
- Anh ấy chỉ mặc bộ đồ xoàng đi dự tiệc. (He wore only a simple suit to the party.)
- Bữa ăn xoàng nhưng ấm cúng. (It was a modest but cozy meal.)
Adverb:
- Bài kiểm tra của tôi làm chỉ xoàng thôi. (I only did so-so on my test.)
- Đội bóng chơi xoàng trong hiệp một. (The team played in a mediocre manner in the first half.)
Advanced Usage
- "xoàng xoàng": (reduplicated form) So-so; just average; not good or bad. This form often softens the meaning, indicating something is passable but unremarkable.
- Phim đó xem cũng xoàng xoàng. (That movie was just so-so.)
Variants and Related Words
- Tầm thường (adj): Ordinary, commonplace, sometimes with a more negative connotation of being trivial or inferior.
- Bình thường (adj): Normal, ordinary, typically neutral in tone.
Synonyms
- Mediocre: Of only moderate quality.
- Average: Around the middle in quality or standard.
- Plain: Simple or basic in nature.
- Modest: Unassuming in quality or amount.
Related Idioms
- Xoàng như con cá rô: (Literally: as mediocre as an anabas fish) An idiom emphasizing something is very ordinary or unimpressive.
- Chiếc xe cũ của anh ta xoàng như con cá rô. (His old car is utterly unimpressive.)