trùng trình
Definition
- 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.)