ừ hữ
Definition
- Interjection:
- A non-committal or evasive verbal response: Used to acknowledge someone's statement without genuine agreement, enthusiasm, or intent to act. It is a filler sound that indicates passive or indifferent hearing, often to be polite or to end a conversation.
- A perfunctory reply: A response given merely for the sake of giving one, lacking substance or sincerity.
Usage Examples
- Interjection:
- Khi mẹ bảo dọn phòng, nó chỉ trả lời "Ừ hữ" rồi tiếp tục chơi game. (When his mom told him to clean his room, he just replied "Uh-huh" and continued playing his game.)
- "Cuối tuần này con sẽ học bài chăm chỉ nhé?" – "Ừ hữ..." ("You will study hard this weekend, right?" – "Uh-huh...")
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in narratives or dialogues to depict a character's apathy, reluctance, or distracted state of mind. It is rarely used in formal writing.
Variants and Related Words
- Ừ (interj): A simple, casual "yes" or "okay," which can also be non-committal but is more direct than "ừ hữ."
- "Đi ăn trưa nhé?" – "Ừ." ("Let's go to lunch?" – "Okay.")
- Hừm (interj): A thoughtful or grunting sound like "hmm," indicating consideration, doubt, or a subdued response.
Synonyms
- Non-committal grunt: A sound made in reply that avoids clear agreement.
- Perfunctory acknowledgment: A routine or automatic acknowledgment without real engagement.
- Evasive reply: A response that avoids giving a direct answer.
Related Idioms
- While "ừ hữ" itself is an interjection, it exemplifies the attitude in the idiom:
- Trả lời cho có lệ: To answer just for the sake of it, to give a token reply.
- Anh ta không nghe đâu, chỉ trả lời cho có lệ thôi. (He's not listening, he's just answering for the sake of it.)