tơ vương
Definition
- Verb (literary, poetic):
- To be sentimentally attached; to be lingeringly in love: Refers to a state of being emotionally bound or having lingering affectionate thoughts towards someone or something, often implying a gentle, persistent, and somewhat melancholic attachment.
- To be entangled by feelings: Describes a heart or mind caught in the delicate, thread-like bonds of sentiment, from which it is difficult to break free.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Lòng anh vẫn còn tơ vương hình bóng cũ. (His heart still lingers on the old image.)
- Mối tình đầu để lại cho cô nhiều tơ vương. (Her first love left her with many lingering attachments.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is primarily used in literary, poetic, or reflective contexts to describe subtle, persistent emotions, often related to nostalgia, unrequited love, or bittersweet memories. It is not typically used in everyday conversational speech.
Variants and Related Words
- Tơ lòng (n, literary): Literally "threads of the heart"; sentimental bonds or lingering feelings. A near-synonymous term often used interchangeably with "tơ vương."
- Những tơ lòng khó dứt. (Sentimental bonds that are hard to sever.)
Synonyms
- To be attached: Having affection or regard for someone.
- To linger (on): To remain in a place or condition longer than usual, often applied to thoughts or feelings.
- To be enamored: To be filled with love and admiration (though "tơ vương" is often more subtle and melancholic).
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Vương tơ: A reversed form with the same essential meaning, emphasizing the state of being entangled by sentimental threads.
- Mối tình ấy khiến trái tim chàng vương tơ. (That love affair left his heart entangled in sentimental threads.)