Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Indifferent, apathetic, lacking enthusiasm or deep concern: Describes an attitude of being emotionally detached, uninterested, or not showing care or warmth towards someone or something.
   • Precarious, unsteady, not firmly placed: Describes something that is placed insecurely, in a wobbly or unstable position, likely to fall.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Indifferent):

  • Anh ấy có thái độ hững hờ trước những lời góp ý. (He has an indifferent attitude towards the feedback.)
  • Cô ấy đáp lại tình cảm của anh một cách hững hờ. (She responded to his affection apathetically.)

• Adjective (Precarious):

  • Chiếc ly được đặt hững hờ trên mép bàn. (The glass was placed precariously on the edge of the table.)
  • Đừng để chiếc ghế hững hờ như thế, nó sẽ ngã đấy. (Don't leave the chair so unsteadily like that, it will fall.)

Advanced Usage

• "hững hờ với đời": indifferent to life; having a detached, uncaring attitude towards worldly affairs.

  • Sau biến cố, ông trở nên hững hờ với đời. (After the incident, he became indifferent to life.)

• "nụ cười hững hờ": an indifferent/apathy smile; a smile that lacks genuine warmth or feeling.

  • Cô ấy đáp lại bằng một nụ cười hững hờ. (She replied with an indifferent smile.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hờ hững (adj): A variant with the same meaning, often used interchangeably to describe indifference or a precarious state.

  • Anh ta hờ hững trước mọi lời mời gọi. (He was indifferent to all invitations.)

• Thờ ơ (adj): Indifferent, unconcerned. (A close synonym for the first meaning).

  • Thái độ thờ ơ của anh ấy thật đáng trách. (His indifferent attitude is truly blameworthy.)

• Chơ vơ (adj): Forlorn, isolated, precarious. (Related to the second meaning of being unsteady or insecure).

  • Căn nhà nhỏ đứng chơ vơ giữa cánh đồng. (The small house stood forlornly in the middle of the field.)

Synonyms

• Lãnh đạm (adj): Cold, aloof, unemotional.
• Dửng dưng (adj): Nonchalant, showing no interest or emotion.
• Không vững (adj): Unstable, not firm (for the second meaning).

Related Idioms

• "Hững hờ như khách bàng quan": As indifferent as a bystander; describing someone who remains completely detached, as if they are just an onlooker.
  • Trước cảnh hỗn loạn, anh ta vẫn hững hờ như khách bàng quan. (In the face of chaos, he remained as indifferent as a bystander.)

1. như hờ hửng