Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Speechless; at a loss for words: Describes a state of being unable to speak or respond, typically due to shock, surprise, embarrassment, or being overwhelmed.
   • Dumbstruck; tongue-tied: Refers to a sudden inability to articulate a response, often in the face of an unexpected or confounding situation.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Nghe tin đó, anh ta đứng đớ họng ra. (Hearing that news, he stood there speechless.)
  • Câu hỏi bất ngờ làm cô ấy đớ họng. (The sudden question left her tongue-tied.)
  • Tôi đớ họng vì ngạc nhiên. (I was dumbstruck with surprise.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used in its full form "đớ họng ra" to emphasize the visible, physical state of being stunned into silence.
  • Nhìn thấy kết quả, cả nhóm đớ họng ra. (Seeing the result, the whole group was rendered speechless.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đớ (adj): A shorter, more colloquial form with the same core meaning of being speechless or dumbfounded.
  • Nó chỉ biết đớ người ra. (He could only stand there dumbfounded.)

Synonyms

• Speechless: Unable to speak, especially due to strong emotion.
• Tongue-tied: Too shy or embarrassed to speak.
• Dumbstruck: So shocked or surprised that one cannot speak.
• Flabbergasted: Extremely surprised and unable to think clearly or react.

Related Idioms

• Câm như hến: (Lit: mute as a clam) To be completely silent or unable to speak.
  • Bị chất vấn, nó câm như hến. (When questioned, he was as silent as a clam.)
• Há hốc mồm: (Lit: to gape open-mouthed) To be agape with astonishment, often accompanying a state of being .
  • Mọi người há hốc mồm đứng nhìn. (Everyone stood gaping in astonishment.)

1. như đớ