Definition

1. Verb:
   • To nag at, to torment (oneself or someone else): "giằn vặt" describes the action of causing persistent mental or emotional distress, often through self-reproach, regret, or by repeatedly bringing up a painful subject. It implies a gnawing, internal suffering.
   • To torture (mentally/emotionally): It conveys a sense of being mentally plagued or haunted by thoughts, guilt, or remorse.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy cứ giằn vặt bản thân vì lỗi lầm trong quá khứ. (She keeps tormenting herself over past mistakes.)
  • Đừng giằn vặt tôi mãi về chuyện đó nữa. (Stop nagging at me about that matter.)
  • Anh ấy giằn vặt vì cảm giác tội lỗi. (He is tormented by feelings of guilt.)

Advanced Usage

• "giằn vặt lương tâm": to have a troubled conscience, to be conscience-stricken.
  • Hành động đó khiến anh ta giằn vặt lương tâm suốt nhiều năm. (That action made him torment his conscience for many years.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dằn vặt: A common variant spelling with the same meaning.
  • Nỗi ân hận dằn vặt anh. (Remorse tormented him.)
• Day dứt (verb): to be troubled, to be nagged by (a thought, guilt). This is a close synonym but can be slightly less intense.
• Hành hạ (verb): to torture, to torment. This can be used for both physical and mental torment and is generally stronger.

Synonyms

• Torment: to cause severe suffering.
• Nag at: to annoy or irritate persistently.
• Plague: to cause continual trouble or distress.
• Haunt: (of a thought or memory) to cause persistent distress.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As "giằn vặt" is a Vietnamese verb, it does not have phrasal verbs in the English sense. The concept is expressed through the verb itself or with accompanying objects. - Giằn vặt bản thân: to torment oneself. - Giằn vặt ai đó: to nag at/torment someone.

Related Idioms

• "Giằn vặt nội tâm" / "Dằn vặt nội tâm": inner torment, internal struggle.
  • Sau quyết định sai lầm, anh ấy chìm trong giằn vặt nội tâm. (After the wrong decision, he was submerged in inner torment.)

verb

1. to nag at, to torment