khệ nệ

Vietnamese

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [xe˧˨ʔ ne˧˨ʔ]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [kʰej˨˩ʔ nej˨˩ʔ] ~ [xej˨˩ʔ nej˨˩ʔ]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [kʰej˨˩˨ nej˨˩˨] ~ [xej˨˩˨ nej˨˩˨]

Adverb

khệ nệ

1. (of one's gait) sluggish; clumsy; awkward while carrying something heavy