nghi ngại

Thân thiện

Một người đàn ông đứng trước hai con đường với vẻ mặt nghi ngại.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To be reluctant (to do something) because still in doubt: To feel hesitant or unwilling to proceed with an action due to uncertainty, suspicion, or lack of clear information. It implies a state of cautious hesitation stemming from doubt.
   • To have misgivings; to be apprehensive: To harbor feelings of doubt, worry, or anxiety about a potential outcome or situation.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy nghi ngại về tính khả thi của kế hoạch. (She has misgivings about the feasibility of the plan.)
  • Tôi nghi ngại khi phải đưa ra quyết định quan trọng này một mình. (I am apprehensive about having to make this important decision alone.)
  • Không có đủ thông tin, anh ta nghi ngại không muốn ký hợp đồng. (Without sufficient information, he is reluctant to sign the contract.)

Advanced Usage

• Expressing deep-seated doubt or suspicion: Used to describe a profound sense of doubt that leads to inaction or extreme caution.
  • Cả cộng đồng nghi ngại trước những lời hứa của chính quyền mới. (The whole community views with suspicion the promises of the new administration.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nghi ngờ (verb): To doubt, to suspect. This is a more direct synonym for "to doubt," while "nghi ngại" carries a stronger connotation of resulting hesitation or reluctance.
• Ngại (verb/adjective): To hesitate; to be reluctant, shy, or afraid of inconvenience. "Ngại" is a component of "nghi ngại" and often refers to hesitation due to politeness or inconvenience, whereas "nghi ngại" is due to doubt.
• Do dự (verb): To hesitate, to waver. This focuses more on the indecisive action itself rather than the doubtful cause.

Synonyms

• Do dự: To hesitate.
• E ngại: To be concerned, to worry (often overlaps with "nghi ngại" in contexts of apprehension).
• Băn khoăn: To be pondering, to be troubled by doubt.

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Nghi ngại sâu sắc: To have deep-seated misgivings.
  • Nhà đầu tư nghi ngại sâu sắc về tình hình kinh tế. (Investors have deep-seated misgivings about the economic situation.)
• Tỏ ra nghi ngại: To show/express reluctance or apprehension.
  • Giám đốc tỏ ra nghi ngại với đề xuất đó. (The director expressed apprehension towards that proposal.)

Related Idioms

• Nửa tin nửa ngờ: Half believing, half doubting. This idiom describes a state of skepticism similar to "nghi ngại."
  • Nghe tin đó, tôi cứ nửa tin nửa ngờ. (Hearing that news, I was half believing, half doubting.)

Học thuật

1. Be reluctant (to do something) because still in doubt