loay hoay
[lwaj˧˧ hwaj˧˧]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(verb) to struggle to deal; to try everything; to fumble; to mess around
Verb
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
loay hoay mãi vẫn không mở được cửato try forvever but still cannot open the door
loay hoay với cái xe hỏngto try everything to fix the broken car
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 “loay hoay” mean?
(verb) to struggle to deal; to try everything; to fumble; to mess around
Is “loay hoay” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.