Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cherish, to hold dear, to treat with great care and affection: "nưng niu" describes the action of handling something or someone with extreme tenderness, love, and gentleness, as if it were very precious and fragile.
   • To coddle, to pamper: It can also imply treating someone with excessive care and indulgence.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Bà nội nưng niu đứa cháu nhỏ. (The grandmother cherishes her young grandchild.)
  • Anh ấy nưng niu chiếc đồng hồ cũ của ông nội. (He treasures his grandfather's old watch.)
  • Đừng nưng niu con quá, nó sẽ hư đấy. (Don't pamper the child too much; they will become spoiled.)

Advanced Usage

• "nưng niu chiều chuộng": to pamper and indulge (often used together for emphasis).
  • Cha mẹ nưng niu chiều chuộng đứa con một. (The parents pamper and indulge their only child.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nâng niu (verb): The standard, more common synonym with the same meaning: to cherish, to hold dear.
  • Cô ấy nâng niu bức thư tình. (She cherishes the love letter.)

Synonyms

• Trân trọng: to treasure, to hold in high esteem (often for abstract things like feelings, moments).
• Yêu quý: to love dearly, to hold affection for.
• Chiều chuộng: to indulge, to pamper (can have a slightly negative connotation of spoiling).

Notes on Usage

• "Nưng niu" is identified as a regional/dialectal word (địa phương). In formal writing and standard communication, "nâng niu" is preferred.
• The word strongly conveys a sense of physical gentleness (like holding something carefully in one's hands) combined with deep emotional affection.
• It is commonly used when talking about caring for babies, cherished objects, loved ones, or pets.

1. (địa phương)
   • như nâng niu