Definition

1. Adjective (Tính từ):
   • Slightly cooled, lukewarm: Describes something, typically a liquid, that has lost some of its heat but is not yet completely cold; it is warm or tepid.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Để nước nguồi nguội rồi hãy uống. (Let the water cool down a bit / become lukewarm before you drink it.)
  • Chè còn nguồi nguội, uống được rồi. (The tea is still warm / slightly cooled; it's drinkable now.)

Advanced Usage

• "nguồi nguội" as a Reduplicative (Từ láy): This word is a reduplicated form of "nguội" (to cool down, cold). Reduplication in Vietnamese often softens the meaning, indicating a partial or moderate state. Here, it means "somewhat cooled" rather than completely cold.
  • Canh nguồi nguội vừa ăn. (The soup is lukewarm, perfect for eating.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nguội (adj/verb): Cool, cold; to cool down.
  • Cơm đã nguội. (The rice is cold.)
• Âm ấm (adj): Warm (often for temperature or feeling).
  • Trà còn âm ấm. (The tea is still warm.)

Synonyms

• Âm (adj): Lukewarm, tepid (less common in everyday speech).
• Hơi nguội (phrase): A bit cooled.

Notes on Meaning

• "Nguồi nguội" specifically describes a temperature state. It does not describe emotions or attitudes (like "indifferent" or "cold" in English). Its usage is almost exclusively related to the physical temperature of objects, especially food and drink.
• It is a colloquial term commonly used in spoken Northern Vietnamese.

1. xem nguội (láy)