ngoái
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To turn one's head back, to look back: "ngoái" describes the action of turning one's head or neck to look behind oneself. It often implies a brief or quick glance backward.
- To look back (figuratively): In a figurative sense, it can mean to think back on or recall the past.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cô ấy ngoái lại nhìn khi nghe thấy tiếng gọi. (She turned her head back when she heard the call.)
- Anh ấy đi thẳng, không hề ngoái lại. (He walked straight ahead without looking back.)
- Đừng ngoái về quá khứ nữa. (Don't look back at the past anymore.)
Advanced Usage
- "ngoái cổ": This is a common compound phrase meaning "to crane one's neck" or "to turn one's head back." It emphasizes the physical action.
- Nó ngoái cổ nhìn theo chiếc xe đang đi xa. (He craned his neck to look at the car driving away.)
- "ngoái nhìn": Another common combination meaning "to look back."
- Cậu bé ngoái nhìn mẹ lần cuối trước khi vào lớp. (The boy looked back at his mother one last time before entering the classroom.)
Variants and Related Words
- Ngoảnh: A near-synonymous verb also meaning "to turn (one's head/body)." "Ngoảnh" can imply a slightly fuller turn of the body compared to "ngoái," which is more specific to the head/neck.
- Ngoảnh mặt đi chỗ khác. (To turn one's face away.)
- Quay đầu: A more general phrase meaning "to turn one's head" or "to turn around."
Synonyms
- Nhìn lại: to look back.
- Quay lại: to turn back (can refer to the whole body).
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Ngoái lại: This is the standard verb form combined with "lại" to indicate the action of turning back/looking back.
- Tôi đã ngoái lại nhưng không thấy ai. (I looked back but didn't see anyone.)
Related Idioms
- Đi không ngoái lại: To leave without looking back. This idiom signifies a decisive departure, often without regret or hesitation.
- Cô ấy bước đi không ngoái lại. (She walked away without looking back.)
- Ngoái đầu về quá khứ: To look back to the past (figurative). It means to dwell on or reminisce about past events.
- Anh ấy cứ thích ngoái đầu về quá khứ. (He keeps looking back to the past.)
- xem năm ngoái