ngót dạ
Definition
- Adjective (Colloquial):
- Slightly hungry / peckish: A state of mild hunger, not yet a strong or urgent need for food. It describes the initial feeling of emptiness in the stomach.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Đi làm về, tôi thấy hơi ngót dạ. (Coming home from work, I felt a bit peckish.)
- Ăn nhẹ cho đỡ ngót dạ trước giờ ăn tối. (Have a snack to curb the slight hunger before dinner.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is informal and conversational. It is often used with modifiers like "hơi" (a bit) or "thấy" (to feel) to soften the statement.
Variants and Related Words
- Đói bụng (adj): Hungry (a stronger, more general term for hunger).
- Cồn cào (adj): Ravenously hungry, stomach growling (a much stronger and more urgent feeling than "ngót dạ").
Synonyms
- Peckish: Mildly hungry.
- Slightly hungry: Having a small desire to eat.
Related Idioms
- Bụng đói cật rét: Literally "hungry belly, cold back"; an idiom describing a state of poverty and deprivation, a much more severe condition than "ngót dạ".