Definition

1. Verb:
   • To wiggle, to squirm, to move with small, quick, and often repeated twisting motions: "ngoay ngoáy" describes a continuous, fidgety, or restless movement, typically of a body part like fingers, toes, or a tail. It often implies a slight, repetitive, and sometimes impatient or nervous motion.
   • To poke or prod lightly and repeatedly: It can also describe the action of poking or stirring something gently and persistently with a finger or a small object.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đứa trẻ ngồi ngoay ngoáy ngón chân. (The child sat wiggling his toes.)
  • Con mèo ngoay ngoáy cái đuôi khi thấy con chuột. (The cat wiggled its tail when it saw the mouse.)
  • Cô ấy ngoay ngoáy cây bút trong tay suốt buổi họp. (She kept twiddling the pen in her hand throughout the meeting.)
  • Nó dùng que ngoay ngoáy lỗ tai. (He used a stick to poke/prod his ear.)

Advanced Usage

• "ngoay ngoáy" as a Reduplicative (Láy) form: This word is a reduplicative form (từ láy) of the base verb "ngoáy." The reduplication intensifies the meaning, emphasizing the repetitive, continuous, or fidgety nature of the action. It is more vivid and descriptive than the single-syllable "ngoáy."
  • So với "ngoáy", "ngoay ngoáy" nhấn mạnh sự liên tục và nhỏ lẻ của động tác. (Compared to "ngoáy," "ngoay ngoáy" emphasizes the continuous and small-scale nature of the movement.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngoáy (verb): To wiggle, to poke. This is the root verb.
  • Ngoáy tai (to clean/poke one's ear)
• Ngoe nguẩy (verb - reduplicative): To wiggle, to wag (often for a tail or hips, with a more swinging or swaying motion).
  • Con chó vẫy đuôi ngoe nguẩy. (The dog wagged its tail.)

Synonyms

• Cựa quậy: To stir, to move restlessly (often of the whole body).
• Ngọ nguậy: To squirm, to wriggle (similar to "ngoay ngoáy" but can imply slightly larger movements).
• Vặn vẹo: To twist and turn.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• : To pick/clean one's ear (literally: to poke the ear hole).
• : To pick one's nose.

Related Idioms

• Ngồi không yên, đứng không vững (như ngồi trên đống lửa): This idiom describes extreme restlessness ("can't sit still, can't stand firm") and is a state that might involve "ngoay ngoáy." While not containing the word itself, it describes a similar agitated state.

1. xem ngoảy (láy)