ngượng mồm
Definition
- Adjective (describing a state):
- Feeling too awkward or embarrassed to speak: Describes the state of being silenced or hesitant to say something because of a feeling of shame, shyness, or social discomfort.
- Being tongue-tied due to embarrassment: Refers to the inability to speak freely because one feels self-conscious or awkward about the situation or topic.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Khi bị phát hiện nói dối, cô ấy cảm thấy ngượng mồm không thể biện minh. (When caught lying, she felt too awkward to speak and couldn't defend herself.)
- Anh ấy ngượng mồm khi phải khen ngợi chính mình. (He was too embarrassed to speak when he had to praise himself.)
- Thấy hoàn cảnh khó khăn của họ, tôi ngượng mồm không dám phàn nàn về chuyện nhỏ của mình. (Seeing their difficult situation, I felt too awkward to complain about my minor problems.)
Advanced Usage
- This term often describes an internal, restraining feeling rather than a physical inability to speak. It is commonly used in contexts involving social faux pas, admitting fault, or discussing sensitive topics where speaking would cause personal discomfort.
Variants and Related Words
Ngượng ngùng (adj): feeling shy, bashful, or embarrassed in a general manner, not specifically related to speech.
- Cô dâu trông thật ngượng ngùng. (The bride looked very shy.)
Ngượng (adj): the root adjective meaning embarrassed, shy, or awkward.
- Tôi cảm thấy rất ngượng. (I feel very embarrassed.)
Synonyms
- Tongue-tied: unable to speak, typically due to shyness or embarrassment.
- Too embarrassed to speak: feeling so ashamed or self-conscious that one cannot talk.
- Abashed: embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed.
Related Idioms
- Câm như hến: (to be) as silent as a clam; describes someone who is completely silent, often due to shock, surprise, or in some contexts, embarrassment.
- Nghe tin đó, anh ta câm như hến. (Hearing that news, he was as silent as a clam.)
-
Feel too awkward (embarrassed) to speak, be silenced by a feeling of awkwardness
