ngại ngùng
Definition
- Adjective:
- Shy, bashful, timid: Describes a state of feeling nervous, embarrassed, or lacking confidence in social situations, often leading to hesitation.
- Reluctant, hesitant: Describes a feeling of unwillingness or apprehension to do something due to fear, doubt, or shyness.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cô ấy rất ngại ngùng khi phải phát biểu trước đám đông. (She is very shy when she has to speak in front of a crowd.)
- Đừng ngại ngùng, hãy tự tin lên! (Don't be shy, be more confident!)
- Anh ấy ngại ngùng không dám mời cô ấy đi cùng. (He was too shy/hesitant to ask her to go with him.)
Advanced Usage
"Ngại ngùng không dám...": Too shy/reluctant to dare to...
- Cậu bé ngại ngùng không dám bước vào phòng. (The boy was too shy to dare to enter the room.)
"Vẻ mặt ngại ngùng": A shy/embarrassed look.
- Cô ấy đáp lời với vẻ mặt ngại ngùng. (She replied with a shy look.)
Variants and Related Words
Ngại (adj/verb): Shy, reluctant; to hesitate, to mind.
- Tôi ngại phải làm phiền bạn. (I'm reluctant to bother you.)
Rụt rè (adj): Timid, shy (often implies being withdrawn).
- Đứa trẻ rụt rè núp sau lưng mẹ. (The timid child hid behind their mother.)
E thẹn (adj): Bashful, demure.
- Cô dâu trông thật e thẹn. (The bride looks very bashful.)
Synonyms
- Xấu hổ: Ashamed, embarrassed (stronger, implies shame).
- Bối rối: Flustered, confused.
- Lưỡng lự: Hesitant, indecisive (focuses more on indecision than shyness).
Related Phrases
- Ngại ngần (adj): Hesitant, reluctant (very similar to 'ngại ngùng', slightly more formal/literary).
- Không chút ngại ngần, anh ấy đồng ý giúp đỡ. (Without any hesitation, he agreed to help.)
Related Idioms
- Mắc cỡ: To feel shy/ashamed (common colloquial equivalent).
- Đừng mắc cỡ, cứ nói đi! (Don't be shy, just say it!)
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shy of, reluctant tọ
