Definition

1. Verb:

   • To stop short; to halt abruptly: To come to a sudden, often unexpected, stop in movement.
   • To totter; to stand or walk unsteadily: Typically used to describe the initial, wobbly attempts of a baby learning to stand or walk.

2. Adjective:

   • Dignified; proper; respectable: Describes a person, manner, or appearance that is mature, composed, and socially appropriate.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to stop short):
  • Con ngựa chững lại khi thấy vật lạ. (The horse stopped short when it saw the strange object.)
• Verb (to totter):
  • Đứa bé mới biết chững. (The child was just tottering / learning to stand.)
• Adjective (dignified):
  • Anh ta ăn nói rất chững. (He speaks in a very dignified/proper manner.)
  • Cách ăn mặc của cô ấy trông rất chững. (Her way of dressing looks very proper.)

Advanced Usage

• The adjective form often implies a positive assessment of maturity beyond one's years.
  • Cậu ấy còn trẻ nhưng cư xử rất chững. (He is still young but behaves very maturely/properly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chững chạc (adj): A more common and emphatic form meaning mature, steady, dignified.
  • Anh ấy là một người đàn ông chững chạc. (He is a steady, dignified man.)

Synonyms

• Verb: Halt, stop, totter, wobble.
• Adjective: Dignified, proper, decorous, respectable, mature.

Related Idioms

• Làm ra vẻ chững chạc: To put on a mature/dignified air.
  • Đừng cố làm ra vẻ chững chạc nữa. (Stop trying to put on a dignified air.)

verb

1. To stop short
2. To totter
   • đứa bé mới biết chững
     the child was just tottering

adj

1. Dignified