mần thinh
Definition
- Verb (informal, dialectal):
- To remain silent / to keep quiet: To deliberately not speak or respond, often in a situation where a response is expected. This term is common in central and southern Vietnamese dialects.
- To feign ignorance through silence: To stay quiet as a way of avoiding a question, confrontation, or responsibility.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Tôi hỏi nó, nó cứ mần thinh. (I asked him, but he just kept quiet.)
- Đừng có mần thinh, trả lời câu hỏi đi! (Don't just stay silent, answer the question!)
- Nó biết lỗi nên chỉ biết mần thinh. (He knew he was at fault, so he could only remain silent.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "mần thinh" carries a connotation of intentional or stubborn silence. It is often used when someone's silence is noticeable, awkward, or frustrating to others.
Variants and Related Words
- Làm thinh (v): The standard, more formal synonym for "mần thinh," meaning to remain silent.
- Cô ấy chỉ làm thinh không nói gì. (She just remained silent and said nothing.)
Synonyms
- Keep quiet: To not speak.
- Stay silent: To remain without speech.
- Clam up (idiomatic): To suddenly become silent, especially when nervous or secretive.
Related Idioms
- Mần thinh như thóc (idiomatic, dialectal): To be completely and stubbornly silent, like unhusked rice (which makes no sound).
- Cả buổi họp, anh ta mần thinh như thóc. (Throughout the meeting, he was as silent as unhusked rice.)