e ngại
Definition
- Verb:
- To be hesitant or apprehensive about: To feel reluctance or unease due to fear of negative consequences, embarrassment, or potential trouble.
- To be shy of / to flinch from: To draw back from an action or encounter due to timidity, bashfulness, or a lack of confidence.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cô ấy e ngại khi phải phát biểu trước đám đông. (She is hesitant to speak in front of a crowd.)
- Tôi e ngại rằng kế hoạch này có thể thất bại. (I am apprehensive that this plan might fail.)
- Anh ấy không hề e ngại đối mặt với khó khăn. (He does not flinch from facing difficulties.)
Advanced Usage
- The verb often describes a psychological state that prevents someone from acting freely. It implies a mix of caution, respect, and mild fear.
- Sự e ngại của anh ấy xuất phát từ kinh nghiệm không tốt trước đây. (His apprehension stems from a previous bad experience.)
Variants and Related Words
- Ngại (v): A more common, colloquial synonym meaning to be reluctant or to mind.
- Tôi ngại đến muộn. (I'm reluctant to be late.)
Synonyms
- To be reluctant: Unwilling and hesitant.
- To be apprehensive: Anxious or fearful that something bad will happen.
- To balk: To hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
Related Idioms
- E dè: To be cautious and wary, often used similarly to "e ngại" but can imply more suspicion.
- Phải e dè với những lời đề nghị quá tốt. (One must be wary of offers that seem too good to be true.)
verb
-
to be shy of, to flinch
