Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Slightly hesitant, reluctant, or apprehensive: Expresses a mild feeling of hesitation, reluctance, or apprehension about doing something, often due to inconvenience, shyness, or a minor obstacle.
   • A bit troublesome or inconvenient: Describes a situation or action that feels slightly bothersome or inconvenient.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Trời mưa to, tôi thấy hơi ngài ngại khi phải ra ngoài. (It's raining heavily, I feel a bit reluctant to go out.)
  • Cô ấy ngài ngại không dám phát biểu trước đám đông. (She was slightly apprehensive and didn't dare to speak in front of the crowd.)
  • Công việc này hơi ngài ngại vì phải đi lại nhiều. (This job is a bit inconvenient because it requires a lot of travel.)

Advanced Usage

• "Cảm thấy ngài ngại": to feel hesitant/reluctant.

  • Anh ấy cảm thấy ngài ngại khi phải nhờ vả người khác. (He feels hesitant when he has to ask others for favors.)

• "Với vẻ ngài ngại": with a hesitant/reluctant manner.

  • Cậu bé nhận món quà với vẻ ngài ngại. (The boy accepted the gift with a hesitant manner.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngại (verb/adjective): The root word meaning to hesitate, to be reluctant, or to find something troublesome. "Ngài ngại" is a reduplicative form (từ láy) of "ngại," softening its intensity.
  • Tôi ngại phải nói sự thật với cô ấy. (I hesitate to tell her the truth.)

Synonyms

• Ngần ngại (adj/verb): to hesitate, hesitant.
• E ngại (verb): to be apprehensive, to worry about.
• Do dự (verb): to hesitate, to be indecisive.

Notes on Meaning

• Intensity: "Ngài ngại" describes a mild or slight level of hesitation or inconvenience. It is less intense than the root word "ngại."
• Common Contexts: Often used to express a polite or subtle reluctance, especially in social situations, or to describe minor physical or mental inconveniences (e.g., due to weather, effort required).

1. xem ngại (láy)