đau đáu
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Be on tenterhooks, feel anxious: Describes a persistent, nagging state of worry, anxiety, or preoccupation with a particular thought or concern. It implies a feeling that is deeply felt and constantly pressing on one's mind.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cô ấy đau đáu lo lắng cho tương lai của con. (She is anxiously worried about her child's future.)
- Anh ấy cứ đau đáu về lời hứa chưa thực hiện được. (He is constantly preoccupied by the promise he hasn't been able to fulfill.)
- Một nỗi niềm đau đáu khôn nguôi. (A ceaselessly nagging sorrow.)
Advanced Usage
- The word is often used to intensify a state of mental or emotional distress, emphasizing its chronic and consuming nature. It frequently modifies words for feelings like "lo" (worry), "nhớ" (miss/long for), or "thương" (pity/concern).
Variants and Related Words
- Canh cánh (adj): Also means a lingering worry or preoccupation, very similar in meaning and often used interchangeably with "đau đáu."
Synonyms
- Anxious: Feeling or showing worry, nervousness.
- Preoccupied: Engrossed in thought; distracted.
- Nagging: Persistently painful or worrying.
Related Idioms
- Đau đáu trong lòng: To have something weighing heavily on one's heart/mind.
- Nỗi nhớ quê hương cứ đau đáu trong lòng. (Longing for the homeland weighs heavily on the heart.)
- Be on tenterhooks, feel anxious