Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Persistent, prolonged, dragging on: Describes a state, situation, or process that continues for an annoyingly or exhaustingly long time without a clear end or resolution. It emphasizes tediousness and lack of progress.
   • Tenacious, clinging: Can describe something that holds on stubbornly, like a persistent feeling or condition.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cuộc chiến tranh kéo dài một cách dằng dai. (The war dragged on persistently.)
  • Cơn đau đầu dằng dai khiến cô ấy rất mệt mỏi. (The persistent headache made her very tired.)
  • Một cuộc thảo luận dằng dai không đi đến kết quả nào. (A prolonged discussion that led to no result.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe abstract concepts: Often used with abstract nouns like pain, war, conflict, discussion, illness, memory, etc., to emphasize their unwelcome longevity.
  • Nỗi buồn dằng dai sau sự mất mát. (The lingering sadness after the loss.)
• Implies resistance to ending: The word carries a nuance that the situation is resistant to concluding, often despite efforts to end it.

Variants and Related Words

• Dằng dặc (Adjective): Similar meaning, often used to describe something very long and drawn-out in terms of physical length or duration (e.g., a long road, a prolonged period).
  • Con đường dằng dặc. (The long, winding road.)
• Kéo dài (Verb): To prolong, to last. This is the action verb form, while "dằng dai" is the descriptive adjective for the state resulting from that action.
  • Cuộc họp kéo dài hai giờ. (The meeting lasted two hours.)

Synonyms

• Kéo dài lê thê: Dragging on tediously.
• Lâu dài: Long-lasting (more neutral, can be positive or negative).
• Triền miên: Unending, incessant (often for negative situations).
• Dai dẳng: Persistent, stubborn (very close synonym, often interchangeable).

Related Phrases / Idioms

• (Có tính chất) dằng dai: (To have a) persistent/prolonged nature.
  • Căn bệnh có tính chất dằng dai. (The illness has a persistent nature.)
• Sự dằng dai: The state of being prolonged/persistent (noun form).
  • Sự dằng dai của cuộc khủng hoảng. (The protraction of the crisis.)

Notes on Usage

• Tone: Almost always carries a negative or weary connotation. It describes something undesirable that continues too long.
• Common Collocations: Frequently pairs with words like: (war), (pain), (discussion), (illness), (conflict), (longing).

1. Dragging on
   • Bàn dằng dai mãi
     The discussions dragged on and on