ngại khó
Definition
- Adjective:
- Afraid of difficulty / reluctant to face hardship: Describes a person's attitude of being unwilling to undertake tasks or activities because they are perceived as difficult, challenging, or requiring significant effort. It implies a lack of perseverance or a tendency to avoid hard work.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Đừng ngại khó, hãy cố gắng hết sức. (Don't be afraid of difficulty; try your best.)
- Cô ấy không ngại khó khi học một ngôn ngữ mới. (She is not reluctant to face the hardship of learning a new language.)
- Một số người ngại khó nên bỏ cuộc sớm. (Some people, being averse to hardship, give up early.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can describe a character trait or a temporary state of mind. It is often used in advice or criticism to encourage someone to be more diligent.
- It can be used in a comparative structure: (more afraid of difficulty), (not as afraid of difficulty as).
Variants and Related Words
- Ngại khổ (adj): Afraid of suffering or hardship; often used interchangeably with but can emphasize enduring physical or mental suffering.
- Ngại (v/adj): To hesitate; to feel reluctant or shy about something. This is the root word meaning "to mind" or "to be shy about."
- Lười biếng / lười nhác (adj): Lazy, idle. This is a stronger, more direct synonym for a general lack of willingness to work.
Synonyms
- Averse to hardship: Having a strong dislike or opposition to difficult conditions.
- Difficulty-shy: Reluctant to engage with challenging tasks.
- Unwilling to exert effort: Not wanting to spend energy or work hard.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Ngại khó ngại khổ: A common paired phrase emphasizing being afraid of both difficulty () and suffering (). It describes a comprehensive aversion to any form of hardship.
- Muốn thành công thì không được ngại khó ngại khổ. (If you want to succeed, you must not be afraid of difficulty or suffering.)
- Đầu hàng khó khăn: To surrender to difficulties. This is a more dramatic phrase for giving up in the face of challenge.