Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Flickering, unsteady, wavering: Describes a light or flame that is not steady, shining intermittently or weakly, as if about to go out.
   • Uncertain, hesitant, indecisive: Describes an action, state of mind, or decision that is not firm, showing hesitation or lack of resolve.

2. Adverb:

   • In a flickering manner: In the manner of something that flickers or wavers.
   • Hesitantly, indecisively: In a manner that shows uncertainty or lack of firmness.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Ngọn nến chập chừng trong gió. (The candle flickered in the wind.)
  • Ánh đèn đường chập chừng làm bóng tối trở nên huyền bí. (The flickering streetlight made the darkness mysterious.)
  • Quyết định của anh ấy còn chập chừng, chưa dứt khoát. (His decision is still hesitant, not yet firm.)

• Adverb:

  • Cô ấy trả lời chập chừng, không chắc chắn. (She answered hesitantly, without certainty.)
  • Ngọn lửa cháy chập chừng rồi tắt hẳn. (The flame burned flickeringly and then went out completely.)

Advanced Usage

• "nói chập chừng": to speak haltingly or hesitantly.

  • Cậu bé nói chập chừng vì quá xúc động. (The boy spoke haltingly because he was too emotional.)

• "ý chí chập chừng": wavering will or determination.

  • Với ý chí chập chừng, anh ta khó mà thành công. (With a wavering will, he is unlikely to succeed.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chập chờn (adj/adv): This is a more common variant with essentially the same meanings: flickering, unsteady, wavering, or appearing and disappearing intermittently.
  • Ánh đèn chập chờn phía xa. (The lights flickered in the distance.)

Synonyms

• Lập lòe (adj/adv): flickering, twinkling (often for small, distant lights like fireflies).
• Do dự (adj/v): hesitant, to hesitate (specifically for actions/decisions).
• Lưỡng lự (adj/v): indecisive, to be indecisive.

Related Phrases

• Chập chừng chập chờn: A reduplicative phrase emphasizing the unsteady, flickering, or hesitant nature even more strongly.
  • Ngọn đèn dầu chập chừng chập chờn trước gió. (The oil lamp flickered unsteadily in the wind.)

Notes on Usage

• Chập chừng is often considered a dialectal or less common variant of chập chờn. In modern standard Vietnamese, chập chờn is more frequently used.
• It is primarily used in descriptive contexts, often for light sources or metaphorical descriptions of unstable states (mood, decision, voice).