ngằn ngặt
Definition
- Adjective:
- Sobbing convulsively; weeping with long, heaving sobs: Describes the act of crying intensely, characterized by loud, uncontrollable outbursts followed by long pauses of silence, often associated with infants or young children in deep distress.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Đứa trẻ khóc ngằn ngặt vì đói sữa. (The child is sobbing convulsively because it is hungry for milk.)
- Nghe tin buồn, cô ấy ôm mặt khóc ngằn ngặt. (Upon hearing the sad news, she covered her face and wept with heaving sobs.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used to describe a specific, intense pattern of crying. It is more literary and descriptive than common conversational words for crying.
Variants and Related Words
- Nức nở (v): to sob, to weep with intermittent catches of breath. This is a close synonym but may imply slightly less violent intensity than "ngằn ngặt."
- Cô bé ngồi nức nở trong góc phòng. (The little girl sat sobbing in the corner of the room.)
Synonyms
- Sobbing convulsively
- Weeping bitterly
- Crying in heaving gasps
Related Idioms
- There are no common idioms directly using "ngằn ngặt." Its usage is typically literal, describing the physical act of intense crying.