Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a splitting headache, feeling a head-splitting pain: "nhức óc" describes an intense, uncomfortable, and often throbbing pain in the head, typically caused by external factors like loud, continuous, or irritating noise.
   • Feeling mentally strained or annoyed: It can also describe a state of mental discomfort, irritation, or frustration, often due to having to listen to something unpleasant, repetitive, or nonsensical for a prolonged period.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tiếng ồn từ công trường khiến tôi nhức óc. (The noise from the construction site gives me a splitting headache.)
  • Nghe bài thuyết trình dài và nhàm chán đó làm tôi nhức óc. (Listening to that long and boring presentation made my head hurt.)
  • Đừng hát nữa, nhức óc quá! (Stop singing, it's giving me a headache!)

Advanced Usage

• Used figuratively for mental strain: Often used to express extreme annoyance or mental fatigue caused by trivial problems, complicated situations, or incessant chatter.
  • Bài toán này khó quá, nghĩ mãi nhức óc. (This math problem is too difficult, thinking about it gives me a headache.)
  • Cuộc tranh cãi vô nghĩa ấy khiến ai nghe cũng thấy nhức óc. (That meaningless argument gave anyone who heard it a headache.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhức đầu (adj): To have a headache. This is a more general and common term for any type of headache, while "nhức óc" often implies a more intense or externally caused pain.
  • Tôi bị nhức đầu. (I have a headache.)
• Đau đầu (adj/verb): To have a headache; to be a headache (a problem). Can be used similarly to "nhức đầu" and also figuratively for troublesome issues.
  • Vấn đề tài chính thật đau đầu. (The financial problem is a real headache.)

Synonyms

• Nhức đầu: to have a headache.
• Ê ẩm (cái đầu): (colloquial) to have a throbbing/aching head.
• Khó chịu (vì tiếng ồn): to feel uncomfortable (because of noise).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• (Làm cho) nhức óc nhức đầu: (to cause) a splitting headache and a regular headache. This is a reinforcing phrase emphasizing extreme annoyance or pain.
  • Tiếng máy khoan làm tôi nhức óc nhức đầu. (The sound of the drill gives me a terrible splitting headache.)
• Nhức óc vì...: to have a headache because of... (used to state the cause directly).
  • Nhức óc vì tiếng trẻ con khóc. (To have a headache because of the sound of children crying.)

1. Fell a head-splitting pain
   • Nghe tiếng búa đập mãi nhức óc
     To fell a head-splitting pain because of continuous bangs of hammer