sựng

Một người đàn ông đứng sựng khi nhìn thấy con rắn.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Motionless; stunned; frozen: A state of being completely still, often due to shock, surprise, or intense focus. It describes a temporary suspension of movement or reaction.
   • Regional variant: This is a regional or dialectal form of the more standard Vietnamese word "sững."

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Nghe tin đó, cô ấy sựng người lại. (Hearing that news, she stood frozen.)
  • Con nai sựng lại khi nghe thấy tiếng động. (The deer stood motionless when it heard the noise.)

Advanced Usage

• This word is primarily used in descriptive contexts to emphasize a sudden, complete physical and mental halt. It often carries a connotation of being petrified by a strong emotion or unexpected event.

Variants and Related Words

• Sững (adj): The more common standard form meaning "stunned," "motionless," or "dumbfounded."
  • Anh ấy sững người vì ngạc nhiên. (He was stunned with surprise.)

Synonyms

• Stunned: shocked into stillness.
• Motionless: without movement.
• Frozen: immobilized, often by emotion.
• Petrified: paralyzed with fear or astonishment.

Related Idioms

• Sựng người / Sững người: A common phrase meaning "to be frozen/stunned (in one's tracks)."
  • Cậu bé sựng người trước cổng trường. (The boy stood frozen in front of the school gate.)