ngắc
Definition
- Verb:
- To get stuck, to get held up, to falter: To stop speaking or acting temporarily due to an obstacle, hesitation, or difficulty in continuing smoothly. It often describes an interruption in speech or thought.
- To become obstructed: To be blocked or hindered, often in a physical sense, though this usage is less common.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ấy đang kể chuyện thì bỗng nhiên ngắc lại. (He was telling a story when he suddenly got stuck.)
- Cô giáo hỏi một câu khó, cả lớp ngắc ra không trả lời được. (The teacher asked a difficult question, the whole class faltered and couldn't answer.)
- Đường ống nước bị ngắc vì rác. (The water pipe got clogged with trash.) (Note: This physical usage is less frequent.)
Advanced Usage
- "ngắc ngứ": This is a common reduplicative form that intensifies the meaning, describing repeated faltering, stammering, or halting speech/action.
- Cậu bé ấp úng ngắc ngứ mãi mới trả lời xong. (The boy stammered and faltered repeatedly before finally finishing his answer.)
Variants and Related Words
- Ngắc ngứ (verb): To stammer, to falter repeatedly. This is the most common compound form.
- Cứng ngắc (adjective): Stiff, rigid, inflexible. (Note: This is a separate compound word where "ngắc" contributes to the meaning of rigidity, not directly related to faltering.)
Synonyms
- Vấp: To stumble (over words).
- Ứ tắc: To be congested, blocked (more formal, often for traffic or systems).
- Lúng túng: To be flustered, confused.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Ngắc lại: To stop short, to come to a halt (emphasizes the stopping action).
- Nghe tiếng động lạ, mọi người đều ngắc lại. (Hearing a strange noise, everyone stopped short.)
Related Idioms
- Ngắc trong họng: Literally "stuck in the throat"; used to describe words that cannot be spoken, often due to strong emotion.
- Nghẹn ngào, lời từ biệt ngắc trong họng. (Choked with emotion, the farewell got stuck in his throat.)
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Get stuck, get held up
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Đang nói tự nhiên ngắc lạiTo get stuck while speaking
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