lỡ thời

[ləː˦ˀ˥ tʰəːj˨˩]

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

(adjective) on the shelf, past usual age for marriage but still unmarried

Adjective

Where it’s used: Used Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora

Examples

Tía anh Hết biểu lại đằng quán con Hảo lỡ thời mà kiếm.Hết’s dad told him to go over to spinster Hảo's shop and look there.

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 ↗

Equivalents & related

Common questions

What does “lỡ thời” mean?

(adjective) on the shelf, past usual age for marriage but still unmarried

Is “lỡ thời” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

What is the closest equivalent?

“on the shelf” (English) — near equivalent.