âu (ưu)

Definition

  1. Adjective:

    • Anxious; worried; concerned: A state of mental unease, distress, or apprehension about potential problems or uncertainties.
    • Sorrowful; melancholy: A feeling of deep sadness or pensiveness.

  2. Verb (literary/classical):

    • To be anxious about; to worry about; to grieve over: To feel or express concern or sorrow regarding someone or something.
Usage Examples

  • Adjective:

    • Anh ấy có vẻ rất âu lo về tương lai. (He seems very anxious about the future.)
    • Một nỗi buồn âu chiếm lấy tâm trí cô. (A sorrowful melancholy occupied her mind.)

  • Verb:

    • Bậc quân vương âu lo cho vận nước. (The monarch worried about the nation's fate.)
Advanced Usage
  • The word "âu" is often used in formal, literary, or classical contexts. In modern spoken Vietnamese, compounds like "lo âu" (to worry) are more common, with "âu" reinforcing the meaning of "lo".
  • It frequently appears in set phrases, poetry, and proverbs to convey a deep, reflective form of worry or sadness.
Variants and Related Words

  • Lo âu (v/n): to worry; anxiety. This is the most common modern compound.

    • Cô ấy đang lo âu về kết quả khám bệnh. (She is worrying about the medical test results.)

  • Ưu tư (adj/v): pensive, brooding; to be deeply thoughtful, often with a hint of sadness.

    • Gương mặt anh ấy lộ vẻ ưu tư. (His face showed a pensive expression.)

  • Ưu phiền (adj): sorrowful, troubled.

    • Tâm trạng ưu phiền khó dỗi. (A sorrowful mood is hard to dispel.)
Synonyms
  • Worried: feeling or showing anxiety.
  • Anxious: experiencing worry or unease.
  • Melancholy: a feeling of deep sadness.
  • Sorrowful: feeling or showing grief.
Related Idioms and Phrases

  • "Lòng đầy ưu tư": A heart full of care/worry.

    • Sau cuộc gọi đó, lòng cô đầy ưu tư. (After that call, her heart was full of worry.)

  • "Âu sầu": Deep sorrow/grief (a poetic compound).

    • Một dáng vẻ âu sầu. (A sorrowful demeanor.)