ngô ngố
Definition
- Adjective:
- Silly, foolish, simple-minded: Describes a person who lacks common sense, shows poor judgment, or behaves in a naive, unintelligent manner. It implies a harmless, somewhat endearing, or obvious foolishness.
- Dazed, vacant, blank: Describes a facial expression or demeanor that appears confused, absent-minded, or not fully aware of the surroundings.
Usage Examples
- Adjective: (The boy looked with a silly/vacant expression.) (Don't be so foolish as to believe a stranger's words.) (That silly look made everyone chuckle.)
Advanced Usage
- The word is often used in a descriptive, sometimes mildly teasing or affectionate way, rather than as a harsh insult. It can describe a temporary state of confusion or a more inherent trait of simple-mindedness.
Variants and Related Words
- Ngố (adj): A shorter, more colloquial form with the same core meaning of silly or foolish. (He is a bit silly.)
- Ngốc nghếch (adj): A synonym that emphasizes foolishness or lack of sharpness. (A foolish action.)
Synonyms
- Foolish: Lacking good sense or judgment.
- Silly: Showing a lack of thought or understanding; frivolous.
- Vacant: Having or showing no intelligence or interest.
- Simple-minded: Having a very straightforward or naive view of things.
Related Idioms
- Ngô ngố như bò đội nón: (As silly as a cow wearing a hat) – An idiom emphasizing extreme foolishness or an absurdly comical lack of sense. (Doing that is no different from being as silly as a cow wearing a hat.)