ngấp nghé
- Verb:
- To look at with covetous eyes, to eye greedily: "ngấp nghé" describes the act of looking at something or someone with strong desire, often with the intention of wanting to possess it/them. It implies a longing, envious, or ambitious gaze.
- To aim for, to have designs on, to covet: It also means to desire or scheme to obtain something, often something that belongs to someone else or is not easily attainable. It suggests ambition or a predatory interest.
- Verb:
- Cô bé xinh đẹp có nhiều người ngấp nghé. (That pretty girl is eyed greedily by many men.)
- Hắn ta đang ngấp nghé chiếc ghế giám đốc. (He is coveting the director's chair.)
- Bọn đế quốc ngấp nghé những mỏ dầu ở Trung Đông. (The imperialists have designs on the oil fields in the Middle East.)
"ngấp nghé một gia tài": to covet an inheritance.
- Nó chỉ ngấp nghé gia tài của ông cụ. (He only has his eyes on the old man's fortune.)
"ngấp nga ngấp nghé": (reduplication for emphasis) to keep eyeing something greedily, to hover around with desire.
- Thằng bé ngấp nga ngấp nghé cái bánh trên bàn. (The boy kept eyeing the cake on the table greedily.)
Ngấp ngoải (verb): A less common variant, also meaning to eye greedily or to be on the verge of something (like dying). It often carries a more desperate or pitiful connotation.
- Con chó bị thương nặng đang ngấp ngoải. (The severely injured dog is on the verge of death.)
Thèm muốn (verb): to desire, to crave. (A more general synonym without the specific nuance of "looking at").
- Lấp ló (verb): to peek, to appear and disappear furtively. (Shares the furtive aspect but not necessarily the desire).
- Lấp ló, rình mò: to lurk, to peek furtively. (Focuses on the stealthy observation).
- Thèm thuồng, ham muốn: to crave, to desire strongly. (Focuses on the feeling of want).
- Nhòm ngó, dòm ngó: to look at, to peer at (often with curiosity or ill intent).
(Note: "ngấp nghé" itself is often used in phrases rather than having many derivative idioms.) - Ngấp nghé bên bờ vực: to be on the brink/verge of a precipice (used figuratively for danger or failure). - Công ty đó đang ngấp nghé bên bờ vực phá sản. (That company is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.)
The reference dictionaries hint at two nuanced, less common meanings: 1. To approach, to be close to (a limit, age, or physical boundary): This usage is rare and somewhat literary. - Nước sông ngấp nghé bờ. (The river water is lapping at the bank / is close to overflowing the bank.) - Ông ấy ngấp nghé sáu mươi tuổi. (He is approaching sixty years of age.)
- To appear furtively or intermittently: This meaning relates to the reduplicated form "ngấp nga ngấp nghé" and the idea of something (like a glance or an object) appearing and disappearing.
- Look wiht covetous eyes, aim, have designs on
- Cô bé xinh đẹp có nhiều người ngấp nghéMany a man look at that pretty girl with covetous eyes