Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Devouringly, voraciously, ravenously: Describes the manner of eating or consuming something with great speed, eagerness, and intensity, often due to extreme hunger or enthusiasm.

Usage

• "Ngấu nghiến" is used to modify verbs related to consumption, most commonly "ăn" (to eat). It vividly depicts an action done hastily and with complete absorption.
• It can also be used metaphorically with verbs like "đọc" (to read) or "xem" (to watch) to indicate consuming content with intense eagerness.

Usage Examples

• With "ăn" (to eat):

  • Cậu bé đói bụng ăn ngấu nghiến bát mì. (The hungry boy devoured his bowl of noodles.)
  • Sau buổi tập, các vận động viên ăn ngấu nghiến. (After practice, the athletes ate voraciously.)

• With "đọc" (to read):

  • Cô ấy ngấu nghiến đọc hết cuốn tiểu thuyết trong một đêm. (She devoured the entire novel in one night.)
  • Tôi đã đọc ngấu nghiến lá thư anh ấy gửi. (I devoured the letter he sent.)

Advanced Usage

• Metaphorical Extension: While primarily for eating, "ngấu nghiến" can describe any act of "consuming" with intense greed or passion.
  • Khán giả ngấu nghiến từng cảnh quay trong bộ phim. (The audience devoured every scene in the movie.)
  • Cậu ấy ngấu nghiến thông tin trên mạng. (He voraciously consumed information online.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngốn (verb, informal): To gobble up, to wolf down. It is a more casual synonym for eating quickly.
  • Nó ngốn hết đĩa cơm trong nháy mắt. (He wolfed down the plate of rice in an instant.)
• Ăn tham (phrase): To eat greedily. Describes the greedy nature of the action.
• Háu ăn (adjective): Gluttonous, greedy for food. Describes a person's characteristic.

Synonyms

• Vội vàng: Hastily, hurriedly (more general, not specific to eating).
• Hăm hở: Eagerly, enthusiastically (focuses on eagerness rather than speed).

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Ăn như hổ đói: To eat like a starving tiger. An idiom with a very similar meaning to "ăn ngấu nghiến," emphasizing extreme hunger and speed.
  • Sau chuyến đi dài, anh ấy vào bếp ăn như hổ đói. (After the long trip, he went into the kitchen and ate like a starving tiger.)

1. Devour
   • Ăn ngấu nghiến
     To devour one's meal
   • Đọc ngấu nghiến một cuốn sách
     To devour a book