dai nhằng
Definition
- Adjective:
- Persistently annoying or bothersome: Describes a person, thing, or situation that is irritating due to its unrelenting, clinging, or nagging nature. It implies a tedious and wearying persistence.
- Tenacious in an unpleasant way: Refers to something that is hard to get rid of, like a minor but constant annoyance that drags on.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Đứa trẻ đó hỏi dai nhằng cả buổi. (That child asked persistent, annoying questions all afternoon.)
- Cơn đau đầu dai nhằng không dứt. (The headache is persistently bothersome and won't go away.)
- Anh ta là một người khách dai nhằng. (He is a persistently bothersome guest.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in informal, spoken Vietnamese to express frustration with something that is minor but exhaustingly constant. It carries a stronger negative connotation than simply "persistent" (), emphasizing the irritating aspect.
Variants and Related Words
Dai dẳng (adj): persistent, lingering, protracted. This is a more neutral or formal term compared to dai nhằng.
- Cuộc chiến tranh dai dẳng. (The protracted war.)
Dai nhách (adj): synonym for dai nhằng, with identical meaning and usage.
Synonyms
- Nagging: annoyingly persistent.
- Wearisome: causing weariness or annoyance.
- Tediously persistent: bothersome due to long continuance.
Related Idioms
- While not a standalone idiom, the quality of being is often described in phrases like:
- Lại còn dai nhằng nữa! (And you're still being persistently annoying!)