nũng
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To act in a coaxingly affectionate or babyish manner to seek pampering: The core meaning of "nũng" describes the behavior of someone, typically a child, who acts cute, clingy, or whiny to elicit fondling, coddling, or indulgence from another person, often a parent or caregiver.
- To be coyly affectionate: It implies a deliberate, sometimes playful, display of childish dependence or sweetness to gain attention and preferential treatment.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Con nũng mẹ. (The child is acting clingy/affectionate to seek pampering from his mother.)
- Đừng có nũng bố nữa! (Stop acting so coyly spoiled with your dad!)
- Em bé hay nũng khi buồn ngủ. (The baby often acts whiny for cuddles when sleepy.)
Advanced Usage
- "làm nũng": This is a common compound verb phrase that emphasizes the act of performing this coaxing behavior.
- Đứa trẻ biết cách làm nũng để được ăn kẹo. (The child knows how to act coyly spoiled to get candy.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nũng nịu (verb): A reduplicative form that carries the same core meaning as "nũng," often with a slightly more prolonged or intense connotation of affectionate whining or coaxing.
- Cô bé nũng nịu ông bà suốt ngày. (The little girl is constantly acting affectionately clingy with her grandparents.)
Synonyms
- To coax (in an affectionate, childlike manner)
- To act clingy (for affection)
- To be coyly spoiled
- To wheedle (with a connotation of childish affection)
Related Idioms
Note: "Nũng" itself is often the core of descriptive phrases rather than a component of fixed idioms. Its meaning is best captured in the verb phrase "làm nũng" as described above.
- Court fondling from, court pampering from, coddle oneself
- Con nũng mẹThe child was courting fondling from his mother