đòi cơn

Một người đàn ông đòi cơn gió mát sau những ngày nắng nóng.

Definition

1. Adverb:
   • In repeated bouts; in successive fits or episodes: Describes an action or event that occurs multiple times, not continuously, but in separate, distinct instances or waves. It emphasizes a pattern of recurrence, often of something intense or unpleasant like coughing, pain, or emotional outbursts.
   • Repeatedly; in turns: Can also imply actions happening alternately or one after another in a sequence.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Bệnh nhân ho đòi cơn. (The patient coughs in repeated fits.)
  • Cơn đau quặn bụng xuất hiện đòi cơn. (The abdominal cramps came in successive waves.)
  • Nó khóc đòi cơn suốt buổi chiều. (He/She cried in episodes all afternoon.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in medical or descriptive contexts to depict symptoms, emotions, or natural phenomena that manifest intermittently but with notable intensity during each occurrence.

Variants and Related Words

• Từng cơn (adv): In fits and starts; paroxysmally. A very close synonym.
  • Cơn sốt đến từng cơn. (The fever comes in bouts.)

Synonyms

• Paroxysmally: In sudden, violent attacks or increases.
• Intermittently: At irregular intervals; not continuously.
• In spells: Occurring for short, distinct periods.

Notes on Usage

• "Đòi cơn" is a somewhat literary or formal adverb. In everyday modern speech, "từng cơn" is more commonly used with the same meaning.
• It primarily modifies verbs to describe the manner in which an action recurs.