Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Dazed, bewildered, stupefied: A state of being mentally confused, slow to react, or unable to think clearly, often due to surprise, shock, or fatigue. It describes a vacant or absent-minded expression and demeanor.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Sau cú va chạm, anh ấy đứng ngơ ngẫn một lúc. (After the collision, he stood dazed for a moment.)
  • Cô bé nhìn ngơ ngẫn khi được tặng món quà bất ngờ. (The little girl looked bewildered when given the unexpected gift.)
  • Làm việc quá sức khiến anh ta lúc nào cũng trong trạng thái ngơ ngẫn. (Overwork keeps him in a constant state of stupefaction.)

Advanced Usage

• "mặt ngơ ngẫn": a dazed face, a blank look.

  • Nó có cái mặt ngơ ngẫn như không hiểu chuyện gì đang xảy ra. (He had a blank look as if he didn't understand what was happening.)

• "ngơ ngẫn ra": to become dazed or stupefied (often used with verbs like "đứng" - to stand, "nhìn" - to look).

  • Nghe tin đó, cả phòng đều ngơ ngẫn ra. (Hearing that news, everyone in the room became stupefied.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngẩn ngơ (adj): This is a very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "ngơ ngẫn" to mean dazed, absent-minded, or infatuated/lovesick.

  • Chàng trai đứng ngẩn ngơ ngắm nhìn cô gái. (The young man stood dazed, gazing at the girl.)

• Ngớ ngẩn (adj): While sometimes confused, this word leans more towards "foolish, silly, stupid" in terms of action or speech, rather than a state of mental confusion.

  • Đừng hỏi những câu ngớ ngẩn như thế. (Don't ask silly questions like that.)

Synonyms

• Ngây ngô: naive, innocent, simple (can imply a lack of worldly experience rather than temporary confusion).
• Mụ mị: muddle-headed, foggy (emphasizes mental dullness or fogginess).
• Đờ đẫn: dull, sluggish, lethargic (emphasizes slowness of reaction and thought).

Related Idioms

• (Đứng) như trời trồng: (to stand) as if planted by the heavens; to stand utterly still and dumbfounded. This idiom describes a state very similar to "ngơ ngẫn."
  • Nghe tin dữ, ông ấy đứng như trời trồng. (Hearing the bad news, he stood as if petrified.)

1. như ngẫn ngơ