Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Slightly deaf / hard of hearing: Describes a person whose sense of hearing is impaired or dulled, making it difficult to hear sounds clearly, but not completely deaf.
   • Inattentive / not paying attention: Used figuratively to describe someone who is distracted, not listening carefully, or seems oblivious to what is being said.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ông cụ hơi nghễnh ngãng nên bạn phải nói to lên. (The old man is slightly hard of hearing, so you have to speak up.)
  • Sau trận sốt, tai tôi cứ nghễnh ngãng khó chịu. (After the fever, my ears felt annoyingly dulled.)
  • Đừng có nghễnh ngãng khi tôi đang giải thích! (Don't be so inattentive while I'm explaining!)

Advanced Usage

• The term often describes a temporary or age-related mild hearing loss, not a profound disability.
• It can carry a mild, sometimes humorous or scolding tone when used for inattentiveness.

Variants and Related Words

• Nghễnh ngãng tai (adj): An emphatic form focusing on the ears being hard of hearing.
  • Bà ấy nghễnh ngãng tai lắm rồi. (Her ears are very hard of hearing now.)

Synonyms

• Hard of hearing: Having reduced hearing ability.
• Inattentive: Not paying close attention.
• Distracted: Unable to concentrate.

Related Idioms

• While not a standalone idiom, the state is sometimes described in phrases like:
  • Tai nghễnh ngãng đi: (My/His/Her) ears have gone dull.

    • Nghe nhạc tai nghe lớn quá, giờ tai tôi nghễnh ngãng đi rồi. (I listened to headphones too loud, and now my ears are dulled.)