Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Persistently and childishly sulky or pouty: Describes a state of being visibly and stubbornly upset, often in a petulant, whiny, or spoiled manner, typically associated with a child's behavior or childish conduct.
   • Fidgety and restless: Can describe small, continuous, and somewhat annoying restless movements, like wiggling or squirming.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Đứa trẻ ngoay ngoảy không chịu ngồi yên. (The child was fidgety and wouldn't sit still.)
  • Cô bé giận dỗi, mặt ngoay ngoảy bỏ về phòng. (The little girl was sulky, her face pouting as she went to her room.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is a reduplicative form (lặp láy) of "ngoảy," which intensifies the meaning, emphasizing the continuous, repetitive, or exaggerated nature of the sulking or fidgeting.

Variants and Related Words

• Ngoảy (adj/v): The root word meaning to sulk, pout, or fidget.
  • Nó ngoảy người không yên. (He/She fidgeted restlessly.)

Synonyms

• Sulky: Bad-tempered or resentful due to annoyance or disappointment.
• Pouty: Showing a petulant pushing out of the lips.
• Fidgety: Inclined to make small, restless movements.
• Petulant: Childishly sulky or bad-tempered.

Related Idioms

• While "ngoay ngoảy" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, the behavior it describes is common in expressions about childish anger, such as "giận dỗi" (to sulk).
  • Nó đang giận dỗi ngoay ngoảy trong góc. (He/She is sulking petulantly in the corner.)