The Vietnamese word "lạch đạch" means "to waddle." It describes a type of movement where a person or an animal walks with short steps and sways from side to side, often resembling how ducks walk. This movement is usually slow and somewhat clumsy.
In more advanced contexts, "lạch đạch" can also convey a sense of playfulness or endearment, especially when describing children or pets. For example, you might say: - "Chú chó con lạch đạch theo chủ." (The puppy waddled after its owner.)
There are no direct variants of "lạch đạch," but you might encounter related phrases that describe similar movements, like "đi khập khiễng" (to limp) or "đi loạng choạng" (to walk unsteadily).
While "lạch đạch" primarily refers to the waddling movement, it can be used metaphorically in some contexts to describe someone moving awkwardly or ungracefully in a broader sense, even in situations that don’t involve actual walking.