khựng

Thân thiện

Chiếc xe đang chạy thì bỗng khựng lại giữa đường.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To stop suddenly or abruptly: To come to a very quick and unexpected halt, often due to surprise, an obstacle, or a mechanical failure. It implies a jerky, incomplete, or unintended cessation of movement or progress.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Xe máy bị khựng giữa đường. (The motorbike stopped suddenly in the middle of the road.)
  • Câu chuyện khựng lại khi anh ấy xuất hiện. (The conversation stopped abruptly when he appeared.)
  • Cô ấy định nói nhưng lại khựng lại. (She intended to speak but suddenly stopped.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often carries a nuance of something being stuck, frozen, or interrupted in an awkward or unnatural way, not a smooth or planned stop.
  • Kế hoạch bị khựng vì thiếu kinh phí. (The plan came to a sudden halt due to lack of funding.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khựng lại (v): A more complete form meaning "to stop suddenly." The addition of "lại" emphasizes the action of coming to a stop.
  • Động cơ khựng lại sau một tiếng nổ. (The engine stopped suddenly after a bang.)

Synonyms

• Halt abruptly: To stop suddenly.
• Jerk to a stop: To stop with a jerking motion.
• Freeze: To stop suddenly and remain completely still (often from fear or surprise).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Làm khựng lại: To cause something to stop suddenly.
  • Tin tức đó làm mọi hoạt động khựng lại. (That news brought all activities to a sudden stop.)

Học thuật

1. Stop suddenly