Definitions

1. Adjective:
   • Indifferent, aloof, cold, unresponsive: Describes a person's attitude or demeanor showing a lack of interest, emotion, or reaction; appearing detached or unconcerned.
   • Unmoved, unaffected: Refers to a state of not being emotionally stirred or impacted by something that would typically elicit a response.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy có vẻ dửng dưng trước lời chỉ trích. (He seems indifferent to the criticism.)
  • Cô ấy nhìn tôi với ánh mắt dửng. (She looked at me with a cold / unresponsive gaze.)
  • Dù mọi người xôn xao, anh ta vẫn tỏ ra dửng như không. (Even though everyone was buzzing, he still acted unmoved, as if nothing happened.)

Advanced Usage

• "dửng dưng": This is the most common compound form, intensifying the meaning of indifference or aloofness.
  • Thái độ dửng dưng của anh ta khiến mọi người khó chịu. (His aloof attitude made everyone uncomfortable.)
• "dửng như không": An idiomatic phrase meaning "to act as if nothing is wrong/happening," feigning complete ignorance or indifference.
  • Nghe tin ấy xong, nó cứ dửng như không. (After hearing that news, he just acted as if nothing had happened.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dửng dưng (adj): The standard, more complete form meaning indifferent, unconcerned, aloof.
• Hờ hững (adj): Similar meaning, denoting negligence, carelessness, or lack of attention/concern.
• Lãnh đạm (adj): Cold, indifferent, showing a lack of warmth or enthusiasm.
• Vô cảm (adj): Unfeeling, apathetic, lacking emotion or sympathy (stronger than ).

Synonyms

• Lạnh nhạt: Cold, unfriendly.
• Thờ ơ: Apathetic, uninterested.
• Bàng quan: Indifferent, detached (often used in a more observational context).

Notes on Usage

• The word "dửng" is rarely used alone in modern Vietnamese. It almost always appears in the reduplicated form "dửng dưng" or in the fixed phrase "dửng như không".
• When used alone, it typically modifies a noun directly (e.g., ) and carries a literary or slightly archaic tone.
• It describes an internal emotional state that manifests as external behavior (facial expression, attitude, reaction).