Definition

1. Verb:
   • To doze, to drowse: To sleep lightly and intermittently, often while sitting or in a situation where one is not fully asleep. The state is characterized by being half-asleep, not in deep sleep.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy ngủ gà trong lớp học. (He dozed off in class.)
  • Sau bữa trưa, tôi thường ngủ gà một chút. (After lunch, I usually doze for a bit.)
  • Đừng ngủ gà khi lái xe! (Don't doze off while driving!)

Advanced Usage

• "ngủ gà ngủ gật": This is a common reduplicative phrase that emphasizes the act of nodding off repeatedly or being in a constant state of drowsiness.
  • Buổi họp dài khiến mọi người ngủ gà ngủ gật. (The long meeting made everyone nod off repeatedly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Buồn ngủ (adj/verb phrase): To feel sleepy, drowsy.
  • Tôi cảm thấy rất buồn ngủ. (I feel very sleepy.)
• Thiu thiu ngủ (verb phrase): To be in a very light, almost imperceptible sleep; to doze lightly.
  • Bà cụ thiu thiu ngủ trên ghế. (The old lady dozed lightly on the chair.)
• Gật gù (verb): To nod (one's head), often involuntarily while dozing.
  • Anh ta gật gù vì buồn ngủ. (He nodded because he was sleepy.)

Synonyms

• Doze off: To fall into a light sleep.
• Drowse: To be half-asleep; to sleep lightly.
• Nap: To sleep for a short time, especially during the day. (Note: "nap" implies a more intentional short sleep, while "ngủ gà" is often unintentional and light.)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Ngủ như chết": To sleep like a log (deeply). This is an antonymic phrase, contrasting with the light sleep of "ngủ gà".
  • Sau chuyến đi dài, anh ấy ngủ như chết. (After the long trip, he slept like a log.)
• "Mắt nhắm mắt mở": (Eyes closed, eyes open) Describes the state of being half-asleep, similar to "ngủ gà".
  • Tối qua tôi chỉ ngủ mắt nhắm mắt mở. (Last night I only slept fitfully.)

1. Doze, drowse