ngại
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Hesitant / Reluctant: Feeling unwilling to do something due to inconvenience, effort, or a sense of awkwardness.
- Fearful / Apprehensive: Feeling worried or afraid that something bad might happen.
Verb:
- To be afraid of / to fear: To have a fear or concern about a specific thing or situation.
- To feel sorry for / to be concerned for: To feel worry or unease on behalf of someone else.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Tôi hơi ngại nói chuyện trước đám đông. (I am somewhat hesitant to speak in front of a crowd.)
- Cô ấy ngại không dám hỏi. (She was apprehensive and didn't dare to ask.)
Verb:
- Anh ấy ngại nhất là bị phê bình. (What he fears most is being criticized.)
- Tôi ngại cho sức khỏe của bà. (I am concerned for her health.)
Advanced Usage
"Ngại ngùng": To be shy, bashful, or embarrassed.
- Cô dâu trông thật ngại ngùng. (The bride looks very shy.)
Used in the structure "ngại + [verb/action]": To be reluctant to perform a specific action.
- Tôi ngại phải nhờ vả người khác. (I am reluctant to have to ask others for favors.)
Variants and Related Words
E ngại (v): To be apprehensive, to have misgivings.
- Họ e ngại về kết quả cuộc điều tra. (They are apprehensive about the investigation's results.)
Ái ngại (v): To feel pity or concern for.
- Tôi ái ngại cho hoàn cảnh của họ. (I feel pity for their situation.)
Synonyms
- Hesitant: Unwilling to act.
- Reluctant: Disinclined to do something.
- Apprehensive: Anxious or fearful that something bad will happen.
- Fearful: Afraid.
Related Idioms
Ngại khó ngại khổ: To be afraid of hardship and difficulty.
- Muốn thành công thì không được ngại khó ngại khổ. (To succeed, you must not be afraid of hardship.)
Ngại đường xa: To be daunted by the long distance.
- Chúng tôi muốn thăm họ nhưng ngại đường xa. (We wanted to visit them but were daunted by the long distance.)
adj
- Worried; hesitant; fearful
- ái ngạito feel sorry for
verb
- to fear; to be afraid