Definition

1. Verb: - To hesitate, to waver, to be indecisive: "lưỡng tự" describes the state of being unable to decide between two or more options, often due to doubt or conflicting thoughts. - To be of two minds: It specifically conveys the feeling of being torn between two choices or opinions.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy lưỡng tự giữa việc đi du học hay ở lại làm việc. (He hesitates/is of two minds between going abroad to study or staying to work.)
  • Đừng lưỡng tự nữa, hãy đưa ra quyết định đi. (Don't waver anymore, make a decision.)
  • Cô ấy lưỡng tự mãi mà không chọn được chiếc váy nào. (She hesitated for a long time without being able to choose a dress.)

Advanced Usage

• "còn lưỡng tự chưa quyết định được": This is a common, more descriptive phrase meaning "to still be wavering and unable to make up one's mind" or "to still be of two minds."
  • Sau nhiều ngày suy nghĩ, tôi còn lưỡng tự chưa quyết định được. (After many days of thinking, I am still wavering and unable to make a decision.)

Variants and Related Words

• Do dự (verb): To hesitate, to be hesitant. This is a very close synonym.
  • Anh ta do dự một lúc trước khi trả lời. (He hesitated for a moment before answering.)
• Phân vân (verb): To be torn, to be uncertain, to be in a dilemma. This is another common synonym with a similar meaning.
  • Tôi rất phân vân giữa hai lựa chọn này. (I am very torn/uncertain between these two choices.)
• Ngập ngừng (verb): To falter, to hesitate (often in speech or action).
  • Cô ấy ngập ngừng ở cửa trước khi bước vào. (She hesitated/faltered at the door before entering.)

Synonyms

• Chần chừ: To delay, to procrastinate (implies slowness in deciding or acting).
• Nao núng: To be shaken, to be unsettled (in one's resolve or opinion).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Lưỡng lự": This is a more commonly used modern variant of "lưỡng tự" with the same meaning (to hesitate, to be indecisive). The usage is identical.
  • Đứng lưỡng lự ở ngã ba đường. (To hesitate at the crossroads.)
• "Tiến thoái lưỡng nan": This is a four-character idiom meaning "to be in a dilemma," "to be between a rock and a hard place," or "to find oneself in a situation where both advancing and retreating are difficult." It describes a more severe state of being stuck than "lưỡng tự."
  • Dự án thất bại khiến công ty rơi vào thế tiến thoái lưỡng nan. (The project's failure put the company in a dilemma/between a rock and a hard place.)

1. Hesitate, waver, be of two minds
   • Còn lưỡng chưa quyết định được
     To be still wavering and unable to make up one's mind, to be still of two minds