The Vietnamese word "chờn vờn" is a verb that means "to swim about" or "to cruise." It describes the action of moving lightly and playfully in water, often in a way that suggests a lack of fixed direction. This word is commonly used to talk about fish or boats that are moving around in a casual or aimless manner.
Đàn cá chờn vờn trên mặt hồ.
Tàu địch chờn vờn ở ngoài khơi.
In more advanced contexts, you might use "chờn vờn" metaphorically to describe a person or an object that is indecisive or wandering without a clear goal. For example, you might say someone is "chờn vờn" in their career choices, indicating they are exploring various options without settling on one.
While "chờn vờn" is commonly used as a standalone phrase, you might encounter it in different contexts or with slight variations depending on the sentence structure, but the core meaning remains the same.