Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Doughy; Soggy: The primary meaning describes a physical state where something, typically food, has lost its crispness or firmness due to absorbing moisture, becoming soft and limp.
   • Demoralized; Dejected; Downcast: An extended meaning describes a person's mental or emotional state, indicating a loss of enthusiasm, energy, or spirit, often due to disappointment or failure.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Physical State):

  • Rau diếp để lâu đã ỉu hết. (The lettuce left out too long has gone all soggy.)
  • Bánh mì này bị ỉu, không giòn nữa. (This bread is doughy, not crispy anymore.)

• Adjective (Emotional State):

  • Nghe tin đó, tâm trạng nó ỉu hẳn. (Hearing that news, his mood became very downcast.)
  • Đội bóng trông thật ỉu sau thất bại. (The team looked utterly demoralized after the defeat.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "ỉu" is often used in a comparative or descriptive form like "ỉu xìu" to intensify the meaning, emphasizing extreme sogginess or profound dejection.
  • Lá cây ỉu xìu vì nắng. (The leaves are completely limp because of the sun.)
  • Cậu bé ngồi ỉu xìu trong góc. (The boy sat utterly dejected in the corner.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ỉu xìu (adj): An intensified form of "ỉu", meaning very soggy/limp or very dejected/dispirited.

Synonyms

• Soggy / Limp: for the physical state.
• Demoralized / Crestfallen / Dejected: for the emotional state.

Related Idioms

• Ỉu như chi chi: (Simile) To be as limp/dejected as a wet rag; to look completely defeated or spiritless.
  • Thua trận, cả đội ỉu như chi chi. (After losing the match, the whole team looked completely defeated.)

adj

1. doughy; soggy