vật vã
Definition
Verb:
- To writhe / to thrash about: To make violent, twisting, or uncontrolled movements of the body, typically due to severe physical pain, intense discomfort, or extreme emotional distress.
- To struggle / to be in agony: To be in a state of intense suffering or hardship, often involving great physical or mental effort to endure.
Adjective:
- Tormented / Agonizing: Describing a state of being marked by severe suffering, struggle, or distress.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Bệnh nhân vật vã vì cơn đau. (The patient writhed in pain.)
- Anh ấy vật vã tìm cách giải quyết vấn đề. (He struggled to find a solution to the problem.)
- Adjective:
- Một đêm vật vã vì lo lắng. (A tormented night due to worry.)
Advanced Usage
- The word often implies a prolonged, exhausting, and visible state of suffering. It is stronger than simply "struggling" and conveys a sense of being worn down by pain or difficulty.
- It can be used for both physical pain (e.g., from illness) and mental/emotional anguish (e.g., from grief, guilt, or a difficult decision).
Variants and Related Words
- Vật vờ (Adjective/Verb): To move about listlessly or languidly; to be in a state of fatigue and lethargy, often after a period of intense struggle ("vật vã").
Synonyms
- Writhe: To twist the body about, especially in pain.
- Thrash: To move about violently.
- Struggle: To make a strenuous effort against difficulties.
- Agonize: To suffer extreme physical or mental pain.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Vật vã trong đau đớn: To be writhing in pain.
- Vật vã với cơn sốt: To be thrashing about with fever.
- Cuộc sống vật vã: A life of hardship and struggle.