Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Procrastinating / dilly-dallying: Describes the act of hesitating, delaying, or being indecisive, often wasting time by not starting or completing an action promptly.
   • Dawdling / lingering: Refers to moving or acting slowly and without purpose, causing unnecessary delay.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy trùng trình mãi không chịu đi. (He kept dilly-dallying and wouldn't leave.)
  • Đừng có trùng trình, làm ngay đi! (Stop procrastinating, do it now!)
  • Công việc bị chậm trễ vì thái độ trùng trình của họ. (The work was delayed because of their dawdling attitude.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often carries a negative connotation, implying criticism of someone's indecisive or time-wasting behavior. It is frequently used in imperative or exhortative sentences to urge someone to act faster.

Variants and Related Words

• Dùng dằng (adj): to hesitate, to waver. This is a close synonym.
  • Cô ấy dùng dằng không biết có nên nhận lời hay không. (She hesitated, not knowing whether to accept.)

Synonyms

• Procrastinate: to delay or postpone action.
• Dawdle: to waste time; to be slow.
• Hesitate: to pause before acting due to uncertainty.
• Linger: to stay in a place longer than necessary.

Related Idioms

• Trùng trình trùng trục: An intensified, reduplicative form emphasizing excessive, drawn-out delay or hesitation.
  • Nó trùng trình trùng trục cả buổi mà chưa xong việc. (He's been dawdling and dilly-dallying all afternoon and still hasn't finished the task.)