Definition

1. Adjective:
   • To be startled or alarmed repeatedly: Describes a state of being suddenly and sharply frightened or anxious, often multiple times in succession. It conveys a sense of nervous jumps or flutters of the heart due to fear, surprise, or worry.
   • To be on edge / apprehensive: Indicates a lingering feeling of nervous anticipation or unease, causing one to be easily startled.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tiếng động lạ trong đêm khiến cô ấy giật mình thon thót. (The strange noise at night made her startle repeatedly.)
  • Chờ kết quả thi, lòng anh ấy cứ thon thót không yên. (Waiting for the exam results, his heart was fluttering with apprehension.)
  • Nghe tin dữ, bà cứ ngồi thon thót cả buổi. (Hearing the bad news, she sat there in a state of nervous alarm for hours.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used in conjunction with verbs like "giật mình" (to startle) or "lo" (to worry) to intensify the description of nervous fear.
  • Cả ngày hôm nay, tôi cứ giật mình thon thót vì những cuộc gọi lạ. (All day today, I've been jumping at every strange phone call.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thót (v): to start, to jerk (often as in a sudden physical or emotional reaction). "Thon thót" is a reduplicative form that emphasizes repetition and continuity of this feeling.
  • Nghe tiếng nổ, tim tôi thót lại. (Hearing the explosion, my heart jumped.)

Synonyms

• Apprehensive: anxious or fearful that something bad will happen.
• On edge: nervous, tense, or irritable.
• Startled: suddenly frightened or surprised.

Related Idioms

• Tim đập thon thót: heart pounding/fluttering with fear or anxiety.
  • Đứng trước đám đông, tim cô ấy đập thon thót. (Standing in front of the crowd, her heart was pounding nervously.)