Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Amazed; astounded; dumbfounded: Describes a state of being so surprised, astonished, or emotionally overwhelmed that one appears absent-minded or dazed.
   • Distracted; absent-minded; in a daze: Describes a state where one's mind is preoccupied with deep thought, longing, or surprise, causing a lack of attention to one's immediate surroundings.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cô ấy đứng ngẩn ngơ trước vẻ đẹp của bức tranh. (She stood amazed/astounded by the beauty of the painting.)
  • Anh ấy ngồi ngẩn ngơ nhớ về quê hương. (He sat there absent-mindedly, thinking of his homeland.)
  • Tin tức đó khiến mọi người ngẩn ngơ. (That news left everyone dumbfounded.)

Advanced Usage

• "Tiếc ngẩn ngơ": To regret deeply/to be filled with profound regret.

  • Cô ấy tiếc ngẩn ngơ vì đã bỏ lỡ cơ hội. (She was filled with profound regret for missing the opportunity.)

• "Nhớ ai ra ngẩn vào ngơ" (Idiomatic expression): To be so lovesick or preoccupied with missing someone that one is constantly in a daze.

  • Anh ấy nhớ cô ấy đến mức ra ngẩn vào ngơ. (He misses her so much he's in a constant daze.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngẩn (adj): Often used in compounds, implies a state of being stunned or dumbfounded.
• Ngơ ngẩn (adj): A variant with similar meaning, emphasizing a bewildered or vacant state.
• Ngơ ngác (adj): Describes a state of being bewildered, confused, or lost, often due to an unfamiliar situation. (Note: This has a stronger connotation of confusion rather than amazement.)

Synonyms

• Sửng sốt: Astonished, shocked.
• Kinh ngạc: Amazed, astonished.
• Mơ màng: Dreamy, in a reverie (focuses more on the dreamy, distracted state).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Đứng hình ngẩn ngơ": To be so stunned that one freezes like a statue.

  • Nghe tin, anh ta đứng hình ngẩn ngơ mất mấy phút. (Upon hearing the news, he stood frozen in astonishment for several minutes.)

• "Ngẩn ngơ như gà mắc tóc" (Simile): To be as bewildered as a chicken with tangled hair; utterly confused and dazed.

  • Gặp sự cố bất ngờ, nó ngẩn ngơ như gà mắc tóc. (Faced with a sudden problem, he was utterly bewildered.)

adj

1. amazed; astounded