lao đao
[laːw˧˧ ʔɗaːw˧˧]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(adjective) unsteady; unstable
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(adjective) hard; full of hardships
Examples
Đi qua một năm thiên tai khi ấy mà để lại người người số kiếp lao đao.Many a person was struggling in life due to the past year of that awful disaster.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Common questions
What does “lao đao” mean?
(adjective) unsteady; unstable
Is “lao đao” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.