ngược xuôi
Definition
Adverb:
- To and fro / hither and thither: Describes moving or traveling constantly and busily in many different directions, often over distances, typically for work, errands, or a purpose.
- All over the place / everywhere: Indicates being active or present in numerous, often far-flung, locations.
Adjective (attributive use):
- Constant and busy travel: Used to describe a state or life characterized by incessant movement and travel.
Usage Examples
- Adverb:
- Công việc khiến anh ấy phải ngược xuôi liên tục. (His job requires him to travel to and fro constantly.)
- Bà ấy một đời ngược xuôi lo cho con cái. (She spent her whole life bustling about, taking care of her children.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often implies effort, hardship, or a lack of rest associated with the constant movement. It is frequently used with verbs like "chạy" (to run), "lo" (to worry/take care of), or "vất vả" (to toil).
- Chạy ngược chạy xuôi is a common reinforcing phrase meaning "to run around everywhere".
Variants and Related Words
- Ngược (adv/prep): upstream, upward, against; often refers to inland or mountainous regions.
- Xuôi (adv/prep): downstream, downward, along with; often refers to lowland or coastal regions.
- Lên xuống (v phrase): to go up and down; denotes movement but over a shorter range or less exhaustive than "ngược xuôi".
Synonyms
- To and fro: Moving repeatedly in opposite directions.
- Hither and thither: To various places in a disordered way.
- Busily back and forth: Constantly moving with purpose.
Related Idioms
- Ngược sông xuôi biển: Literally "upstream on the river, downstream to the sea"; figuratively means to travel far and wide, enduring hardships across the land.
- Ba tôi đã ngược sông xuôi biển để kiếm sống. (My father traveled far and wide to make a living.)
- Chân ướt chân ráo: Literally "one foot wet, one foot dry"; means to have just arrived, often contrasted with the experienced fatigue of "ngược xuôi".