Definition

1. Verb:
   • To feel a slight shiver or shudder; to be slightly creeped out: "chợn" describes a brief, mild sensation of fear, unease, or physical chill, often causing one to flinch or recoil slightly. It is a dialectal variant of "rợn".
   • To hesitate due to a sudden feeling of fear or apprehension: It can also mean to pause or falter momentarily because of a sudden scare or doubt.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Nghe tiếng động lạ trong đêm, tôi chợn người. (Hearing a strange sound at night, I shuddered.)
  • Cô ấy chợn tay, suýt làm rơi cốc nước. (Her hand flinched, she almost dropped the glass.)
  • Anh ấy định nói nhưng lại chợn, không dám tiếp tục. (He intended to speak but then hesitated, not daring to continue.)

Advanced Usage

• "chờn chợn" (reduplicated form): To feel a continuous, lingering sense of creepiness or unease. This form has an attenuated, prolonged sense compared to the single word.
  • Căn phòng trống vắng khiến tôi cảm thấy chờn chợn. (The empty room gave me a creepy feeling.)
• The word "chợn" is often used in spoken Vietnamese, particularly in certain dialects. In formal writing, "rợn" is more common.

Variants and Related Words

• Rợn (verb): To shudder, to be creeped out. This is the standard, more common form.
  • Câu chuyện ma làm tôi rợn tóc gáy. (The ghost story made my hair stand on end.)
• Sợ (verb): To be afraid, to fear. This is a more general term for fear.
• Run (verb): To have goosebumps. Often used in the phrase "nổi da gà" (to have goosebumps).

Synonyms

• Rùng mình: To shiver (often from cold or fear).
• Giật mình: To be startled.
• Ngần ngại: To hesitate, to be reluctant (focuses more on hesitation than fear).

Related Phrases

• Nổi da gà / Nổi gai ốc: To have goosebumps (a stronger physical reaction often associated with "rợn" or "chợn").
• Sởn gai ốc: To have one's hair stand on end (to be terrified).