gàn gàn

Một ông cụ gàn gàn ngồi câu cá bên bờ sông.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Slightly foolish, a bit silly, somewhat unreasonable: Describes a person who exhibits a mild degree of stubbornness, foolishness, or lack of common sense, but not to an extreme extent. It implies a touch of eccentricity or being a little bit pig-headed.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ông ấy trông có vẻ nghiêm túc nhưng đôi khi cũng gàn gàn. (He looks serious but is sometimes a bit silly/unreasonable.)
  • Đừng có gàn gàn mà không nghe lời khuyên của mọi người. (Don't be so pig-headed as to ignore everyone's advice.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used in a mildly critical or affectionate tone to describe a minor, persistent character flaw, especially stubbornness. It softens the stronger criticism implied by the root word "gàn" (foolish, pig-headed).

Variants and Related Words

• Gàn (adj): Foolish, pig-headed, unreasonably stubborn. This is the root word that "gàn gàn" modifies and softens.
  • Tính anh ấy rất gàn, chẳng ai khuyên được. (He is very pig-headed, no one can advise him.)

Synonyms

• Hơi ngốc nghếch: A bit silly.
• Hơi bướng bỉnh: A bit stubborn.
• Có chút khờ dại: Having a touch of foolishness.

Related Idioms

• Cứng đầu cứng cổ: (Idiom) Stiff-necked, extremely stubborn. This is much stronger than "gàn gàn".
  • Nó cứng đầu cứng cổ lắm, đừng có khuyên. (He's extremely stubborn, don't even try to advise him.)