Definition

1. Verb:

   • To look at; to glance at; to direct one's gaze towards something. This is the most common meaning. It often implies a casual, brief, or observant look, not a deep stare.
   • To face; to have a view or orientation towards. Used to describe the direction a building, window, or object is facing.
   • (Dialectal) To seem; to appear (a certain way). Used to describe an impression given by someone's appearance or manner.

2. Noun:

   • The young, edible shoot of certain aquatic plants, such as the lotus or water dropwort.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to look):

  • Cô ấy chỉ ngó qua một lần rồi đi tiếp. (She just glanced at it once and moved on.)
  • Khách sạn này ngó ra biển. (This hotel faces the sea.)
  • Bộ quần áo ấy ngó lạ lắm. (That outfit looks very strange.)

• Noun (shoot):

  • Gỏi ngó sen là một món ăn thanh mát. (Lotus shoot salad is a refreshing dish.)

Advanced Usage

• "ngó lơ" / "ngó lờ": to ignore deliberately; to pretend not to see.

  • Anh ta ngó lơ tôi khi tôi chào. (He ignored me when I said hello.)

• "ngó nghiêng": to look around; to glance sideways (often with curiosity or suspicion).

  • Đứa bé ngó nghiêng khắp căn phòng lạ. (The child looked around the unfamiliar room.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngó đầu (v): to peek; to show one's head briefly to look.

  • Nó ngó đầu ra khỏi cửa. (He peeked his head out the door.)

• Ngó tới (v): to pay attention to; to care for.

  • Chẳng ai ngó tới lời phàn nàn của anh ấy. (No one paid any attention to his complaint.)

Synonyms

• Nhìn: to look, to see (more general).
• Liếc: to glance, to peek (quick, often secretive).
• Hướng về: to face, to orient towards.

Related Idioms

• Ngó bên Đông, bỏ bên Tây: Literally "to look East, abandon West." Means to be distracted, to lack focus, or to favor one side over another unfairly.

  • Làm việc phải tập trung, đừng ngó bên Đông bỏ bên Tây. (When working, you must concentrate; don't be distracted.)

• Ngó lên ngó xuống: Literally "to look up and look down." Means to scrutinize or examine someone or something from head to toe, often critically.

  • Bà ấy ngó lên ngó xuống bộ trang phục mới của tôi. (She looked my new outfit up and down.)

verb

1. to see; to look at
   • ngó lại
     to look back