ngồi lì
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To sit stubbornly / to sit tight: To remain seated or stay in one place for an unusually long, persistent, and often stubborn or uncooperative period, refusing to move or leave.
- To stay put / to be planted: To remain fixed in a location, often implying inactivity, resistance to change, or a refusal to budge despite external pressures or expectations.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Đứa trẻ ngồi lì trên ghế và không chịu đi tắm. (The child sat stubbornly on the chair and refused to go take a bath.)
- Anh ta ngồi lì trong quán cà phê suốt buổi chiều. (He stayed put in the coffee shop all afternoon.)
- Không thể thuyết phục cô ấy; cô ấy cứ ngồi lì đó. (We couldn't persuade her; she just sat tight there.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often carries a negative connotation of being obstinate, passive, or unproductively stationary. It can describe physical inactivity or a metaphorical refusal to take action or make a decision.
- Công việc không tiến triển vì anh ấy cứ ngồi lì, không chịu đưa ra quyết định. (The work isn't progressing because he just sits tight, refusing to make a decision.)
Variants and Related Words
- Ở lì (verb phrase): to stay put stubbornly (can be used for locations other than sitting).
- Nó ở lì trong phòng cả ngày. (He stayed put in his room all day.)
Synonyms
- To sit tight: To remain in one's place, waiting or refusing to move.
- To be planted: To be fixed firmly in one spot.
- To stay put: To remain in the same place.
Related Idioms
- While "ngồi lì" itself is an idiomatic phrase, it is sometimes used in broader contexts describing persistent inaction.
- Ngồi lì như tượng: To sit still like a statue (emphasizing complete lack of movement).