Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Dazed; in a daze: Describes a state of being mentally numb, stunned, or bewildered, often due to shock, grief, or exhaustion, resulting in slow, absent-minded reactions.
   • Absent-minded; distracted: Refers to a state of being lost in thought or not paying attention to one's surroundings.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Nghe tin dữ, cô ấy ngồi thờ thẫn cả ngày. (Hearing the bad news, she sat in a daze all day.)
  • Anh ấy nhìn thờ thẫn ra cửa sổ, chẳng nghe lời ai nói. (He stared absent-mindedly out the window, not hearing anyone's words.)
  • Sau ca trực 24 giờ, tôi cảm thấy người thờ thẫn. (After a 24-hour shift, I felt dazed.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often describes a prolonged, visible state of mental detachment or shock. It is stronger than simple distraction, implying a degree of emotional impact or severe fatigue.

Variants and Related Words

• Thẫn thờ (adj): A near-synonymous variant with the same core meaning of being dazed, absent-minded, or listless.
  • Cậu bé thẫn thờ nhìn theo chiếc xe đi xa. (The boy gazed listlessly after the car driving away.)

Synonyms

• Dazed: Stunned or bewildered.
• Absent-minded: Lost in thought and unaware of surroundings.
• Stunned: So shocked one is temporarily unable to react.
• Listless: Lacking energy or enthusiasm.

Related Idioms

• While "thờ thẫn" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is used to depict the state described in common phrases.
  • Đứng hình: To freeze (like a statue), often from surprise. (Implies a more sudden, brief shock than the prolonged state of "thờ thẫn").
  • Mất hồn: To be scared out of one's wits. (Focuses on fear, while "thờ thẫn" focuses on numb detachment).