loay quay
[lwaj˧˧ kwaj˧˧]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(verb) to struggle and mess around and never be still
Verb
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
[…] nhưng đêm qua, ông già Sáu Đèo lại trợt chân. / Ông còn ngồi loay quay ngoi ngóp dưới sân bèo thì vừa lúc Phi về, anh hỏi, trời đất, làm gì ngồi đây.[…] but last night, Mr Sáu Đèo slipped again. / He was still sitting there, struggling and floundering in the duckweed-covered yard when Phi returned and asked, "Heaven and earth, why are you sitting here?"
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 quay” mean?
(verb) to struggle and mess around and never be still
Is “loay quay” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.