Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Worried; anxious; pensive: Describes a state of deep thought, concern, or unease about potential problems or the future. It implies a quiet, reflective sadness or preoccupation.
   • Melancholy; troubled: Conveys a lingering feeling of sorrow or mental distress.

2. Noun:

   • Worry; anxiety; preoccupation: Refers to the state or feeling of being deeply concerned or troubled by something.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy ngồi im với vẻ mặt ưu tư. (He sat quietly with a worried expression.)
  • Cô ấy trông rất ưu tư về tương lai. (She looks very anxious about the future.)
• Noun:
  • Những ưu tư về công việc khiến anh mất ngủ. (His worries about work cause him to lose sleep.)

Advanced Usage

• "Chất ưu tư": A melancholic or pensive quality.
  • Bức tranh toát lên một chất ưu tư kỳ lạ. (The painting exudes a strange melancholic quality.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ưu phiền (adj/n): Sorrowful; sorrow. Often used interchangeably with but can imply a slightly more active state of grief.
• Buồn phiền (adj): Sad and troubled.

Synonyms

• Lo lắng: To worry, to be anxious (often more about immediate, specific issues).
• Băn khoăn: To be perturbed, to have misgivings.
• Trầm tư: To be pensive, contemplative (focuses more on deep thought than worry).

Related Idioms

• Mang nặng ưu tư: To be burdened with worry.
  • Người lính già mang nặng ưu tư về chiến tranh. (The old soldier is burdened with worry about the war.)