Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Choked with emotion, overcome with emotion: Describes a state where one is so emotionally moved (typically by sadness, happiness, gratitude, or nostalgia) that it becomes physically difficult to speak, often feeling a tightness in the throat.
   • Tearfully emotional: Refers to being filled with a strong, poignant emotion that brings one to the verge of tears or causes the voice to falter.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cô ấy nói lời cảm ơn với giọng nghẹn ngào. (She said thank you with a choked/emotional voice.)
  • Nghe tin đó, anh ấy nghẹn ngào không nói nên lời. (Upon hearing that news, he was so overcome with emotion he couldn't speak.)
  • Buổi lễ tốt nghiệp đầy nghẹn ngào. (The graduation ceremony was full of emotional moments [that choked one up].)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe abstract concepts: Can describe moments, atmospheres, or memories that evoke this strong, speech-stealing emotion.
  • Những kỷ niệm nghẹn ngào của thời thanh xuân. (The poignant/emotional memories of youth.)
• Used in literary and formal contexts: Commonly found in literature, speeches, formal writing, and descriptive narratives to convey deep sentiment.

Variants and Related Words

• Nghẹn (verb): To choke, to be obstructed (can be physical or emotional).
  • Nghẹn lời: To be choked for words.
• Ngào (This is a poetic element rarely used alone; its primary modern use is in the compound "nghẹn ngào").
• Xúc động (adj/verb): Moved, touched (emotionally). This is a more general synonym but lacks the specific physical connotation of choked speech.

Synonyms

• Xúc động nghẹn ngào: Deeply moved and choked up (a common reinforcing phrase).
• Bồi hồi: Fluttered, emotionally stirred (often with nostalgia, less intense than "nghẹn ngào").
• Tắc nghẹn: Choked, blocked (can be used for both physical obstruction and emotional speechlessness).

Related Phrases

• Nghẹn ngào trong lòng: Feeling choked up inside.
  • Cảm giác nghẹn ngào trong lòng khi chia tay. (The feeling of being choked up inside when saying goodbye.)
• Giọng nói nghẹn ngào: A choked/emotional voice.
  • Ông ấy kể câu chuyện với giọng nói nghẹn ngào. (He told the story with an emotional voice.)

Related Idioms

• Nghẹn lời không nói nên lời: So choked up one cannot form words. (This is a descriptive phrase rather than a fixed idiom, but it perfectly captures the meaning of "nghẹn ngào".)

1. to be choked by tears