nao núng
Definition
Verb: - To flinch; to waver; to become shaken or unsteady: Refers to a loss of firmness, resolve, or stability in one's spirit, belief, or position. It describes the state of beginning to doubt or lose confidence when facing difficulty, pressure, or fear. - To deter; to be daunted: Describes being discouraged or disheartened to the point where one's determination or morale weakens.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Tinh thần chiến đấu của họ không hề nao núng. (Their fighting spirit did not waver at all.)
- Lời đe dọa khiến một số người nao núng. (The threat caused some people to flinch.)
- Niềm tin của cô ấy bắt đầu nao núng sau nhiều thất bại. (Her faith began to waver after many failures.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used to describe psychological or moral states, such as意志 (will), 精神 (spirit), 信心 (confidence), or 势力 (force/power) becoming unstable.
- Commonly appears in contexts involving challenge, threat, or sustained pressure.
Variants and Related Words
- Nao nao (adj): A different word describing a melancholic or wistful feeling, not to be confused with "nao núng."
- Dao động (v): To oscillate, to fluctuate. Can be a near-synonym in some contexts but is more general and can apply to physical movement or abstract concepts like opinions.
Synonyms
- Waver: To become unsteady or unsure.
- Falter: To start to lose strength or momentum.
- Hesitate: To pause due to uncertainty or fear.
- Lose heart: To become discouraged.
Antonyms
- Vững vàng (adj): Steadfast, firm, unshakable.
- Kiên định (adj): Resolute, unwavering.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Lòng tin nao núng: A wavering faith/belief.
- Những tin đồn khiến lòng tin của công chúng nao núng. (The rumors caused the public's trust to waver.)
- Thế lực nao núng: A weakening force or position of power.
- Sau thất bại liên tiếp, thế lực của đối thủ đã nao núng. (After consecutive defeats, the opponent's power base was shaken.)
verb
-
to flinch; to deter
