Definition

Verb (intransitive): * To sit up quickly or abruptly from a lying or reclining position. The action implies a sudden, often startled or eager, movement to an upright sitting posture.

Usage Examples

• (Lying down, he sat up quickly upon hearing the sound of his mother's returning footsteps.)
• (Hearing the bang, he bolted upright to look out the window.)
• (The little girl, who was sleeping soundly on the sofa, suddenly sat bolt upright.)

Advanced Usage

The word is primarily used in informal, colloquial Northern Vietnamese speech. It vividly describes a physical reaction to a sudden stimulus, such as a noise, a surprise, or a moment of realization.

Variants and Related Words

• Ngồi dậy: (Verb) To sit up. This is the standard, neutral term for the action. "Ngỏm dậy" adds a layer of speed and suddenness.
• Bật dậy: (Verb) To spring up, to jump up. This can imply an even more forceful or rapid movement, potentially to a standing position, not just sitting.

Synonyms

• To bolt upright
• To sit up with a start
• To jerk upright

Notes on Usage

"Ngỏm dậy" is an expressive, informal verb. It is not typically used in formal writing. The core nuance is the suddenness and speed of the transition from lying down to sitting up.

1. Sit up quickly
   • Đang nằm nghe tiếng chân mẹ về ngỏm dậy
     To sit up quickly from one's lying position on hearing one's home-coming mother's footsteps