vò đầu
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To tousle/scratch one's head: The literal action of rubbing or messing up one's own hair on the head, typically done as a physical expression of deep thought, worry, frustration, or regret.
- To be perplexed / to rack one's brains: A figurative meaning describing a state of intense mental struggle, confusion, or effort to solve a difficult problem.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Anh ấy vò đầu vì bài toán khó. (He scratched his head over the difficult math problem.)
- Đứng vò đầu suy nghĩ cả tiếng đồng hồ. (He stood there racking his brains for a whole hour.)
- Nghe tin đó, cô ấy chỉ biết vò đầu than thở. (Upon hearing that news, she could only tousle her hair and lament.)
Advanced Usage
The phrase is often extended to "vò đầu bóp trán" (to tousle the head and squeeze the forehead) to emphasize even greater concentration or worry.
- Nhà thiết kế vò đầu bóp trán tìm ý tưởng mới. (The designer racked his brains to find a new idea.)
It can also be paired as "vò đầu bứt tai" (to tousle the head and pull one's ears) to express extreme regret, frustration, or vexation.
- Hối hận vì quyết định sai lầm, ông ấy vò đầu bứt tai. (Regretting the wrong decision, he was pulling his hair out in frustration.)
Variants and Related Words
- Bứt tai (v): to pull one's (own) ears; often paired with "vò đầu" to intensify the meaning of distress.
- Đau đầu (v): to have a headache; can be used figuratively for a troublesome problem.
Synonyms
- To puzzle over: To think deeply about something confusing.
- To be baffled: To be completely puzzled or confused.
- To fret: To be constantly or visibly worried or anxious.
Related Idioms
Vò đầu bứt tai: To be extremely perplexed or to regret intensely; to be at one's wits' end.
- Dự án thất bại khiến cả đội vò đầu bứt tai. (The project's failure made the whole team tear their hair out.)
Nặn óc suy nghĩ (to squeeze one's brain to think): A similar idiom emphasizing strenuous thinking.