lầy

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The Vietnamese word "lầy" is an adjective that generally means "boggy" or "swampy." It is used to describe ground that is wet, soft, and muddy, making it difficult to walk on or navigate through.

Basic Usage

• Example: "Trời mưa nhiều làm đất trở nên lầy." (The heavy rain made the ground become boggy.)

Advanced Usage

In a more figurative sense, "lầy" can also describe a situation or a person who is slow-moving or unproductive, similar to the way one might get bogged down in mud.

Word Variants

• Sa lầy: This phrase means "to bog down" or "to get stuck in the mud." It describes a situation where someone is hindered or trapped due to complications or difficulties.
  • Example: "Chúng tôi đã sa lầy trong đống công việc này." (We got bogged down in this pile of work.)

Different Meanings

While "lầy" primarily refers to a physical state of being boggy or swampy, it can also be used in informal contexts to refer to a person who is lazy or takes too long to do things.

Synonyms

• Đầm lầy: This means "swamp" or "marsh," which can be used to describe areas that are very wet and muddy.
• Bùn: This means "mud," which is closely related but refers more specifically to the thick, wet earth that can be found in boggy areas.

Contextual Note

When using "lầy," be mindful of the context. In casual conversations, it can have a light-hearted or humorous connotation, especially when referring to someone being slow or lazy. In more serious discussions, it can describe actual physical conditions or challenges.

Academic

adj

1. boggy; swampy
   • sa lầy
     to bog down