trì độn
[t͡ɕi˨˩ ʔɗon˧˨ʔ]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(adjective) dim-witted, slow on the uptake
Register: formal
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Khi thiếu vitamin B12, phụ nữ dễ có cảm giác trì độn, chân tay rã rời, hay bị viêm lưỡi, tiêu chảy.When lacking vitamin B12, women are prone to feeling dim-witted and weak in the limbs, and they often suffer from glossitis and diarrhea.
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 ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(adjective) not glib, hesitant when speaking, thinking things through before speaking
Register: formal
Examples
« Cương, nghị, mộc, nột, cận nhân 剛，毅，木，訥，近 仁: Cương-trực, nghiêm-nghị, chất-phác, trì-độn, là gần nhân. » (Luận-ngữ: Tử-Lộ, XIII)"Gāng, yì, mù, nè, jìn rén — 剛，毅，木，訥，近 仁: Upright and outspoken, grave, unpretentious, thinking before speaking, this is close to virtue." (Analects: Zǐlù, XIII)
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Equivalents & related
Near equivalent
slow on the uptake
slow to understand or react to something
English
Near equivalent
on the uptake
quick to understand or respond
English
Near equivalent
cù lần
(adjective) slow on the uptake, dumb
Tiếng Việt · via on the uptake
Lighter cards are two steps away in the meaning graph — equivalents of equivalents, reached via the entry shown on the card.
Common questions
What does “trì độn” mean?
(adjective) dim-witted, slow on the uptake
Is “trì độn” formal or informal?
trì độn is generally formal.
What is the closest equivalent?
“slow on the uptake” (English) — near equivalent.