Definition

1. Verb:
   • To turn one's head, to turn around: To rotate one's head or body to look in a different direction, typically behind oneself.
   • To give care/attention again after neglecting: To resume paying attention to or caring for someone or something after a period of disregard.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy nghe thấy tiếng gọi tên mình nên vội ngoảnh lại. (He heard his name being called, so he quickly turned around.)
  • Sau nhiều năm bỏ bê, cuối cùng cô ấy cũng ngoảnh lại nhìn đứa con. (After many years of neglect, she finally turned her attention back to her child.)
  • Đừng ngoảnh lại nhìn quá khứ nữa, hãy hướng về phía trước. (Don't look back at the past anymore; look forward.)

Advanced Usage

• "ngoảnh lại đằng sau": to look back behind oneself.
  • Cô ấy ngoảnh lại đằng sau để xem ai đang đi theo mình. (She looked back behind her to see who was following.)
• "không ngoảnh mặt làm ngơ": to not turn one's face away (idiomatic); to not ignore or be indifferent.
  • Trước cảnh khó khăn của đồng bào, chúng ta không thể không ngoảnh mặt làm ngơ. (Faced with the hardships of our compatriots, we cannot turn a blind eye.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngoảnh (verb): to turn (one's head). Often used in combination.
  • Ngoảnh mặt: to turn one's face (away).
• Quay lại (verb): to turn back, to return. A more general synonym.
• Ngoái lại (verb, colloquial): to look back. A more informal variant with the same core meaning.

Synonyms

• Quay đầu lại: to turn one's head back.
• Nhìn lại: to look back (can be both literal and figurative).
• Để ý trở lại: to pay attention again.

Related Idioms

• "Ngoảnh đi ngoảnh lại": to turn this way and that; to look around repeatedly, often implying hesitation, surprise, or searching.
  • Anh ta ngoảnh đi ngoảnh lại mà vẫn không thấy chìa khóa đâu. (He looked around everywhere but still couldn't find the keys.)
• "Cha mẹ ngoảnh đi thì con dại, cha mẹ ngoảnh lại thì con khôn" (proverb): Literally "When parents turn away, children become foolish; when parents turn back (give care), children become wise." Highlights the importance of parental guidance and attention.

1. Turn one's head, turn round
   • Nghe ai gọi đằng sau lưng vội ngoảnh lại
     To turn round when hearing someone call to one from behind
2. Give care again to after neglecting (someone)
   • Cha mẹ ngoảnh đi thì con dại, cha mẹ ngoảnh lại thì con khôn (tục ngữ).
     When the parents neglect the children they turn foolish, When the parents give care to them again they turn wise