Definition

Verb: - To torment; to cause persistent mental or emotional anguish: To inflict severe, prolonged suffering, often of a psychological or moral nature, causing deep distress and unease. - To worry; to gnaw at; to afflict: To cause someone to feel anxious, troubled, or guilty over a period of time.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Lương tâm anh ấy bị giày vò vì lỗi lầm trong quá khứ. (His conscience was tormented by past mistakes.)
  • Cô ấy giày vò bản thân với những câu hỏi "nếu như". (She tormented herself with "what if" questions.)
  • Nỗi sợ hãi về tương lai giày vò anh ta suốt đêm. (Fear of the future worried him all night.)

Advanced Usage

• "Bị giày vò": To be tormented (by something). This passive construction is very common.
  • Anh ta bị giày vò bởi cảm giác tội lỗi. (He is tormented by a sense of guilt.)
• "Giày vò tâm can/tâm trí": To torment one's heart/mind. This phrase emphasizes deep psychological suffering.
  • Quyết định đó giày vò tâm can cô ấy nhiều năm. (That decision tormented her heart for many years.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hành hạ (verb): To torture, to maltreat (often implies more direct, physical torment).
• Dày vò (verb): A common alternate spelling with the same meaning as "giày vò".
• Day dứt (verb): To feel remorseful, to be nagged by guilt (describes the internal state of being tormented).

Synonyms

• Torment: To cause severe suffering.
• Afflict: To cause pain or suffering.
• Haunt: To persistently disturb or distress.
• Nag: To cause persistent mild worry or annoyance.

Notes on Usage

• "Giày vò" primarily describes causing or experiencing internal, mental, or moral suffering, such as guilt, regret, anxiety, or deep worry. It is less commonly used for physical torture, for which "tra tấn" or "hành hạ" are more typical.
• The word often conveys a sense of something gnawing away at a person from the inside over time.

verb

1. to torment; to worry