Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Stiff, rigid, stark: Describes a state of being completely straight, unbending, or lacking any natural flexibility or softness. It often implies an unnatural, awkward, or tense posture or appearance.
   • Stunned, dumbfounded: Describes a state of being so surprised, shocked, or embarrassed that one becomes motionless and speechless, as if frozen.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy đứng ngay đơ như tượng gỗ. (He stood stiff like a wooden statue.)
  • Tấm vải này cứng và ngay đơ quá. (This fabric is too hard and stiff.)
  • Nghe tin đó, cô ấy ngay đơ người ra. (Upon hearing that news, she was stunned stiff.)

Advanced Usage

• "ngay đơ người" / "đứng ngay đơ": These common collocations emphasize the physical state of the whole body becoming rigid due to shock, fear, or intense focus.
  • Thấy cô giáo bước vào, cả lớp đứng ngay đơ. (When the teacher walked in, the whole class stood stock-still.)
• The word carries a negative connotation, describing an undesirable lack of grace, naturalness, or composure.

Variants and Related Words

• Ngay (adj): Straight, upright, honest. "Ngay đơ" intensifies "ngay" to imply excessive, unnatural straightness or rigidity.
• Cứng đơ (adj): Also means stiff or rigid, often used for objects or body parts. It can be synonymous with "ngay đơ" in the physical sense.
• Cứng ngắc (adj): Very stiff, rigid, unyielding (often for rules, attitudes, or materials).

Synonyms

• Cứng (adj): Hard, stiff.
• Cứng nhắc (adj): Rigid, inflexible (often for manner or rules).
• Sững sờ (adj): Astonished, dumbfounded (closer to the mental state of shock).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• (Đứng) Trơ ra như phỗng: To stand motionless like a statue (similar to "đứng ngay đơ").
• Cứng như khúc gỗ: As stiff as a log (emphasizing physical rigidity).

1. stiff, stark