Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Shy, bashful, timid: "e thẹn" describes a state of feeling nervous, embarrassed, or lacking confidence, especially in social situations or when receiving attention. It implies a gentle, reserved, and often endearing quality of shyness.
   • Diffident, self-conscious: It can also refer to a feeling of being modestly hesitant or restrained due to a fear of being judged or making a mistake.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cô bé ấy rất e thẹn khi gặp người lạ. (That little girl is very shy when meeting strangers.)
  • Anh ấy trả lời với vẻ e thẹn. (He answered with a bashful manner.)
  • Nụ cười e thẹn của cô ấy làm mọi người yêu mến. (Her timid smile made everyone fond of her.)

Advanced Usage

• "Làm ra vẻ e thẹn": to act shy/bashful.

  • Cô ấy không thật sự nhút nhát, cô ấy chỉ đang làm ra vẻ e thẹn thôi. (She isn't truly timid; she's just acting bashful.)

• "Cảm giác e thẹn": a feeling of shyness/embarrassment.

  • Cảm giác e thẹn ban đầu nhanh chóng biến mất. (The initial feeling of shyness quickly disappeared.)

Variants and Related Words

• E lệ (adj): shy, demure (often with a poetic or more formal nuance).

  • Một cô gái e lệ. (A demure girl.)

• Ngại ngùng (adj): hesitant, feeling awkward or reluctant.

  • Anh ấy ngại ngùng không dám bước vào. (He was hesitant to step inside.)

• Rụt rè (adj): timid, shrinking back, showing a lack of confidence.

  • Đứa trẻ rụt rè núp sau lưng mẹ. (The timid child hid behind their mother.)

Synonyms

• Nhút nhát: timid, easily frightened (stronger emphasis on fear).
• Bẽn lẽn: bashful, blushing (often implies a physical reaction like blushing).
• Xấu hổ: ashamed, embarrassed (stronger, often due to a perceived fault).

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• E thẹn không dám: too shy to dare (to do something).

  • Cô ấy e thẹn không dám phát biểu. (She was too shy to dare speak up.)

• Vẻ mặt e thẹn: a shy/bashful expression.

  • Cậu bé có vẻ mặt e thẹn khi được khen. (The boy had a bashful expression when praised.)

Related Idioms

• E thẹn như cô dâu mới: as shy as a new bride.
  • Ngày đầu đi làm, cô ấy e thẹn như cô dâu mới. (On her first day at work, she was as shy as a new bride.)

1. Shy and different