Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Sobbing convulsively; weeping with long, heaving sobs: Describes the act of crying intensely, characterized by loud, uncontrollable outbursts followed by long pauses of silence, often associated with infants or young children in deep distress.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Đứa trẻ khóc ngằn ngặt vì đói sữa. (The child is sobbing convulsively because it is hungry for milk.)
  • Nghe tin buồn, cô ấy ôm mặt khóc ngằn ngặt. (Upon hearing the sad news, she covered her face and wept with heaving sobs.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used to describe a specific, intense pattern of crying. It is more literary and descriptive than common conversational words for crying.

Variants and Related Words

• Nức nở (v): to sob, to weep with intermittent catches of breath. This is a close synonym but may imply slightly less violent intensity than "ngằn ngặt."
  • Cô bé ngồi nức nở trong góc phòng. (The little girl sat sobbing in the corner of the room.)

Synonyms

• Sobbing convulsively
• Weeping bitterly
• Crying in heaving gasps

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms directly using "ngằn ngặt." Its usage is typically literal, describing the physical act of intense crying.