Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Indiscriminate; jumbled; mixed together without order or distinction: Describes things, actions, or situations where elements of different types or qualities are carelessly combined, with no attempt to separate, classify, or select them. It implies a lack of organization, refinement, or discernment.

2. Adverb:

   • Indiscriminately; in a mixed-up, haphazard manner: Describes the way an action is performed—without care for order, quality, or proper selection.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Một đống đồ đạc xô bồ. (A jumbled pile of belongings.)
  • Cách trang trí này trông thật xô bồ. (This decoration looks really messy and indiscriminate.)
• Adverb:
  • Anh ấy mua sách xô bồ, không cần biết nội dung. (He buys books indiscriminately, without caring about the content.)
  • Đừng ăn uống xô bồ như vậy, hại dạ dày lắm. (Don't eat so haphazardly like that, it's very bad for your stomach.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a negative connotation, criticizing a lack of standards, care, or method. It can apply to physical mixtures, behaviors, or speech.
• "Tính xô bồ cả món hàng": To price a whole lot of items together as one mixed batch (without pricing individually by quality).

Variants and Related Words

• Hỗn độn (adj): chaotic, disorderly. While similar, "hỗn độn" emphasizes chaos and disorder more generally, whereas "xô bồ" specifically emphasizes the mixing of disparate elements without distinction.
• Lẫn lộn (v): to mix up, to confuse. This is the verbal action that results in a "xô bồ" state.

Synonyms

• Indiscriminate
• Jumbled
• Haphazard
• Unselective
• Miscellaneous (in the sense of a mixed collection)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Ăn nói xô bồ: To speak indiscriminately or carelessly; to make remarks without thought or tact.
  • Cô ấy bị mất lòng nhiều người vì thói ăn nói xô bồ. (She has offended many people because of her habit of speaking carelessly.)
• Mua bán xô bồ: To buy or sell goods in a mixed lot without sorting by quality.
  • Người nông dân bán cam xô bồ cho thương lái. (The farmer sells oranges in mixed lots to the trader.)

adj

1. gross