Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Indifferent, apathetic, unconcerned: Describes a state of being emotionally detached, showing no interest, care, or reaction towards a person, situation, or event.
   • Nonchalant, detached: Implies a calm, cool, and seemingly unaffected attitude.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy có thái độ dửng dưng trước những lời chỉ trích. (He has an indifferent attitude towards the criticism.)
  • Cô ấy nhìn mọi chuyện với vẻ mặt dửng dưng. (She looked at everything with a detached expression.)
  • Không thể dửng dưng trước nỗi đau của đồng loại. (One cannot remain apathetic to the suffering of fellow humans.)

Advanced Usage

• "dửng dưng như không": to act as if nothing happened, to be completely unfazed.
  • Nghe tin ấy, anh ta vẫn dửng dưng như không. (Upon hearing that news, he still acted as if nothing happened.)
• "thái độ dửng dưng": an attitude of indifference.
  • Thái độ dửng dưng của anh ta khiến mọi người thất vọng. (His indifferent attitude disappointed everyone.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dửng (adj, less common): A shortened, more poetic or archaic form implying aloofness or detachment.
• Thờ ơ (adj): A close synonym meaning indifferent, unconcerned. While similar, "thờ ơ" can sometimes imply a more active neglect, whereas "dửng dưng" often describes a passive, innate lack of emotional response.
• Lãnh đạm (adj): Cold, impassive, unfeeling. This term often carries a stronger connotation of coldness than "dửng dưng".

Synonyms

• Vô cảm: unfeeling, insensitive.
• Hờ hững: indifferent, nonchalant.
• Bàng quan: to stand aloof, to be an indifferent spectator.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary and most common meaning is indifferent (adjective).
• In some classical or poetic contexts (as shown in the Vietnamese-Vietnamese reference), "dửng dưng" can function as an adverb meaning "naturally," "without apparent cause," or "as a matter of course" (e.g., - Wealth comes naturally/as a matter of fate). However, this usage is rare in modern everyday language.

adj

1. Indifferent