bó tay
[ʔɓɔ˧˦ taj˧˧]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(verb) to feel hopeless because there is nothing you can do to help or improve a bad situation
VerbRegister: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Thằng đó nói mãi chả nghe. Tao bó tay với nó luôn.He never listens to me. I just can't even with him.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Common questions
What does “bó tay” mean?
(verb) to feel hopeless because there is nothing you can do to help or improve a bad situation
Is “bó tay” formal or informal?
bó tay is generally informal.