Definition

1. Verb:
   • To hesitate: To pause or delay before acting, speaking, or deciding, often due to uncertainty, doubt, or reluctance.
   • To vacillate / to waver: To be indecisive, going back and forth between different choices or opinions without reaching a firm decision.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy ngần ngừ một lúc trước khi trả lời. (She hesitated for a moment before answering.)
  • Đừng ngần ngừ nữa, hãy đưa ra quyết định đi! (Don't hesitate any longer, make a decision!)
  • Anh ấy vẫn còn ngần ngừ giữa hai phương án. (He is still vacillating between the two options.)

Advanced Usage

• "ngần ngại": A close synonym, often used interchangeably with "ngần ngừ" to express hesitation, sometimes with a slightly stronger nuance of reluctance or scruple.
  • Tôi không ngần ngại giúp đỡ bạn. (I do not hesitate to help you.)

Variants and Related Words

• Do dự (v): to hesitate, to be in two minds. Often used similarly to "ngần ngừ."

  • Sự do dự của anh ấy khiến mọi người sốt ruột. (His hesitation made everyone impatient.)

• Lưỡng lự (v): to be hesitant, indecisive. A more formal synonym.

  • Sau phút lưỡng lự, cô ấy đồng ý. (After a moment of hesitation, she agreed.)

Synonyms

• Hesitate: To pause due to uncertainty.
• Waver: To fluctuate in opinion or decision.
• Falter: To speak or act hesitatingly, often showing a lack of confidence.

Related Idioms

• "Chần chừ": This is a near-identical idiom meaning to delay or procrastinate, often due to hesitation.
  • Anh ta cứ chần chừ mãi không bắt đầu công việc. (He kept procrastinating and didn't start the work.)

verb

1. to dilly-dally, to vacillate