dửng
Definitions
- 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).