Definition

1. Verb:
   • To wait (on one's deathbed) for the return of a close relative: This is a specific and poignant verb describing the act of a dying person clinging to life, using their last strength to wait for the return of a beloved family member, often to see them one last time or to deliver final words.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Ông cụ ốm nặng nhưng vẫn cố nuối đứa con trai đi xa. (The old man is seriously ill but still tries to wait on his deathbed for his son who is far away.)
  • Bà ấy nuối cháu gái đến từ nước ngoài về trước khi mất. (She waited on her deathbed for her granddaughter to return from abroad before passing away.)

Advanced Usage

• This word is used in deeply emotional and solemn contexts, almost exclusively related to death and final farewells. It implies a struggle against impending death fueled by love or unfinished business.
• It often appears in literature, folktales, or narratives about filial piety and family bonds.

Variants and Related Words

• Nuối tiếc (Verb phrase): To regret, to feel sorrow over something lost or missed.
  • Anh ấy nuối tiếc vì đã bỏ lỡ cơ hội. (He regrets missing the opportunity.)

Synonyms

• Trông chờ (Verb): To wait, to hope for.
• Mong ngóng (Verb): To long for, to eagerly await.

Notes on Meaning

• The word 'nuối' is highly specific and literary. In modern everyday conversation, the concept is more commonly expressed with descriptive phrases rather than this single, potent verb.
• It carries a strong cultural connotation, reflecting the deep importance of family reunions and final blessings in Vietnamese tradition.

1. Wait (on one's death-bed) for the return of one's close relative