nhí nhảnh

Vietnamese

Etymology

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “reduplicative of nhí? compound of two distinct roots? or combination of two syllables that don't contribute meaning in of themselves?”

Pronunciation

(Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ɲi˧˦ ɲajŋ̟˧˩]
(Huế) IPA^(key): [ɲɪj˨˩˦ ɲɛɲ˧˨]
(Saigon) IPA^(key): [ɲɪj˦˥ ɲan˨˩˦]

Adjective

nhí nhảnh (‑a reduplication nhí nha nhí nhảnh)

(often of a girl) sprightly; joyful; lively; cutesy; flippant

Derived terms

nhí nhảnh như con chó cảnh