nguây nguẩy
Definition
- Adjective:
- Describes a manner of moving or turning away abruptly, often with a slight, dismissive shake or jerk of the head or body, to express disagreement, refusal, or sulky disobedience.
- Conveys an attitude of being offended, displeased, or stubbornly non-compliant.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Nó chỉ lắc đầu nguây nguẩy rồi bỏ đi. (It just shook its head sulkily and walked away.)
- Đứa trẻ trả lời "không" với cái vẻ nguây nguẩy. (The child answered "no" with a sulky, defiant air.)
- Bà ấy nguây nguẩy đặt gánh hàng lên vai mà không nói lời nào. (She huffily hoisted her carrying pole onto her shoulder without a word.)
Advanced Usage
- The word is often used to depict a non-verbal, physical reaction that communicates a negative emotional state such as petulance, defiance, or being miffed. It is frequently associated with gestures like turning one's head or body away sharply.
Variants and Related Words
- Nguẩy (v): A shorter, sometimes more abrupt form, meaning to turn or jerk away dismissively.
- Cô ta nguẩy mặt đi chỗ khác. (She turned her face away to look elsewhere.)
Synonyms
- Sulkily: in a silent, bad-tempered, and resentful manner.
- Defiantly: in a manner that shows open resistance or bold disobedience.
- Huffily: in an annoyed or offended way.
Related Idioms
- While "nguây nguẩy" itself is descriptive, the behavior it describes is central to idioms about defiance or refusal, such as the concept of turning a deaf ear or giving someone the cold shoulder.