sợ sệt
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Fearful, timid, apprehensive: Describes a state of being easily frightened or showing visible signs of fear, such as through facial expressions, gestures, or hesitant speech. It implies a lack of courage and a tendency to be easily scared.
- Cautious, wary: Can describe an overly careful or hesitant attitude stemming from fear.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Đứa trẻ đó rất sợ sệt khi gặp người lạ. (That child is very fearful when meeting strangers.)
- Anh ấy nhìn tôi với ánh mắt sợ sệt. (He looked at me with a fearful/timid gaze.)
- Cô ấy có tính cách sợ sệt, không dám thử những điều mới. (She has a timid personality and doesn't dare to try new things.)
Advanced Usage
- "tỏ vẻ sợ sệt": to show a fearful/timid appearance.
- Khi bị hỏi, cậu bé chỉ biết gãi đầu tỏ vẻ sợ sệt. (When questioned, the boy could only scratch his head, showing a timid appearance.)
- "nói năng sợ sệt": to speak in a fearful/timid manner.
- Cô ấy trả lời một cách sợ sệt trước mặt sếp. (She answered in a fearful manner in front of the boss.)
Variants and Related Words
- Sợ (verb): to fear, to be afraid of.
- Tôi sợ ma. (I am afraid of ghosts.)
- Sợ hãi (adjective/verb): to be terrified, frightened (often indicates a stronger, more intense fear than "sợ sệt").
- Khuôn mặt sợ hãi. (A terrified face.)
- Nhút nhát (adjective): shy, bashful (focuses more on shyness than fear).
- Một cô gái nhút nhát. (A shy girl.)
- Rụt rè (adjective): timid, hesitant, shy (similar to "sợ sệt" but can also imply shyness in social situations).
- Cử chỉ rụt rè. (Timid gestures.)
Synonyms
- E sợ: to be apprehensive, to dread.
- Khiếp sợ: to be horrified, to be terrified (stronger).
- Hoảng sợ: to be panic-stricken.
Related Idioms/Phrases
- Sợ sệt như chuột thấy mèo: As fearful as a mouse seeing a cat (to be extremely scared).
- Cậu ta cứ sợ sệt như chuột thấy mèo mỗi khi ông chủ xuất hiện. (He is as fearful as a mouse seeing a cat whenever the boss appears.)
- Mặt mày sợ sệt: A fearful/timid face (showing fear on one's face).
- Thấy cảnh sát, tên trộm có mặt mày sợ sệt. (Seeing the police, the thief had a fearful face.)
- Be afraid, fear