Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Slightly forced, somewhat unnatural, a bit awkward: Describes an action, behavior, or expression that is performed with a noticeable but not extreme lack of ease, spontaneity, or naturalness. It indicates a state of mild constraint or effort to appear normal or comfortable.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Sau cuộc cãi vã, nụ cười của cô ấy trông có vẻ gường gượng. (After the argument, her smile looked somewhat forced.)
  • Anh ấy đứng dậy gường gượng và bắt đầu phát biểu. (He stood up a bit awkwardly and began to speak.)
  • Bầu không khí trong bữa tiệc thật gường gượng và im lặng. (The atmosphere at the party was rather strained and quiet.)

Advanced Usage

• "Làm gường gượng": To do something in a forced or unnatural manner.
  • Đừng làm gường gượng, hãy cứ tự nhiên đi. (Don't act so stiffly, just be natural.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gượng (adj, v): The root word meaning "forced," "strained," or "to force oneself." "Gường gượng" is an intensified reduplicative form of "gượng," emphasizing the noticeable yet moderate degree of the quality.
  • Nụ cười gượng. (A forced smile.)
• Gượng gạo (adj): Very similar in meaning to "gường gượng," also meaning forced, unnatural, or awkward. The two are often used interchangeably.
  • Cuộc trò chuyện gượng gạo. (An awkward conversation.)

Synonyms

• Miễn cưỡng: Reluctant, unwilling (often implies doing something against one's will, while "gường gượng" focuses more on the unnatural appearance).
• Không tự nhiên: Unnatural.
• Ngượng ngịu: Awkward, embarrassed (often with a stronger sense of shyness or embarrassment).

Related Idioms

• Gượng dậy: To force oneself to get up (often due to illness, weakness, or reluctance).
  • Ông ốm nặng nhưng vẫn gượng dậy tiếp khách. (He was seriously ill but still forced himself to get up to receive guests.)