nhùng nhà nhùng nhằng
Definition
Adjective:
- Long-winded, rambling, or unnecessarily complicated: Describes speech, writing, or actions that are excessively verbose, convoluted, or drawn-out without clear purpose or point.
- Hesitant, indecisive, or evasive: Refers to behavior or speech that avoids giving a direct answer, is full of excuses, or shows a lack of decisiveness.
Adjective (onomatopoeic):
- The word is a reduplicative, mimicking the sound or feeling of something being dragged out, repetitive, or tiresomely prolonged.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Bài phát biểu của anh ấy nhùng nhà nhùng nhằng, chẳng ai hiểu kết luận là gì. (His speech was so long-winded, no one understood the conclusion.)
- Đừng có nhùng nhà nhùng nhằng nữa, hãy trả lời thẳng câu hỏi đi. (Stop being so evasive, just answer the question directly.)
- Thủ tục đó nhùng nhà nhùng nhằng lắm, mất cả ngày chưa xong. (That procedure is so complicated and drawn-out, it takes a whole day and isn't finished.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used to express frustration or criticism towards unnecessary complexity, delay, or lack of clarity in communication or processes.
Variants and Related Words
- Nhùng nhằng (adj): A shorter, more common variant with the same core meanings of being convoluted, indecisive, or evasive.
- Cậu ấy cứ nhùng nhằng mãi, không chịu quyết định. (He kept hesitating and wouldn't make a decision.)
Synonyms
- Verbose: Using more words than needed.
- Convoluted: Extremely complex and difficult to follow.
- Evasive: Tending to avoid commitment or direct answers.
- Indecisive: Not able to make decisions quickly.
Related Idioms
- Lòng vòng nhùng nhằng: To go around in circles (literally and figuratively), describing an action or explanation that is indirect and unnecessarily complicated.
- Giải thích lòng vòng nhùng nhằng mãi, cuối cùng vấn đề rất đơn giản. (He explained in such a roundabout and convoluted way, but the problem was very simple in the end.)