Definition

1. Verb:
   • To dawdle, to hesitate, to procrastinate: To act slowly, to delay taking action, or to be indecisive, often due to reluctance, uncertainty, or a lack of resolve.

Usage

• Primary Meaning: Used to describe the act of delaying or hesitating, typically when a decision or action is required. It implies wasting time through indecision or slow movement.
• Context: Commonly used in situations involving reluctance, such as making a difficult choice, leaving a place, or starting a task.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy lần chần mãi không dám đưa ra quyết định. (He hesitated for a long time, not daring to make a decision.)
  • Đừng lần chần nữa, chúng ta sắp muộn rồi. (Don't dawdle anymore; we're going to be late.)
  • Cô ấy lần chần ở cửa, không muốn rời đi. (She lingered at the door, not wanting to leave.)

Advanced Usage

• "lần chần không đáng": It's not worth hesitating over; hesitation is unwarranted.
  • Cơ hội tốt thế này, lần chần không đáng đâu. (This is such a good opportunity; it's not worth hesitating over.)
• "lần chần do dự": To hesitate and be indecisive (a reinforcing phrase).
  • Sự lần chần do dự của anh ta khiến mọi người sốt ruột. (His hesitation and indecision made everyone impatient.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chần chừ (verb): A near-synonym meaning to hesitate, to be indecisive. The meanings are very similar and often interchangeable.
  • Tôi vẫn còn chần chừ về kế hoạch đó. (I am still hesitant about that plan.)
• Nấn ná (verb): To linger, to tarry. Focuses more on physically staying longer than intended rather than mental indecision.
  • Cậu bé nấn ná trong tiệm đồ chơi. (The boy lingered in the toy store.)

Synonyms

• Do dự: To hesitate, to be undecided.
• Trì hoãn: To postpone, to delay (more formal, often for tasks).
• Lưỡng lự: To be of two minds, to vacillate.

Related Idioms

• "Lần khân lần chần": To drag one's feet, to be very slow and hesitant. This is a reduplicative phrase emphasizing extreme procrastination.
  • Công việc mãi không xong vì anh ta cứ lần khân lần chần. (The work is never done because he keeps dragging his feet.)