ầm ừ

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ầm ừ

Khi được hỏi về kế hoạch, anh ấy chỉ biết ầm ừ.

Definition
  1. Verb:
    • To hum and haw, to hem and haw: To make vague, non-committal sounds (like "um," "uh," "er") instead of giving a clear, direct answer, typically due to hesitation, reluctance, or indecision.
    • To hesitate, to equivocate, to prevaricate: To avoid giving a definite answer or making a firm decision by speaking evasively.
Usage Examples
  • Verb:
    • Anh ấy chỉ biết ầm ừ khi được hỏi về kế hoạch. (He could only hum and haw when asked about the plan.)
    • Đừng có ầm ừ nữa, hãy trả lời thẳng câu hỏi đi. (Stop hemming and hawing, just answer the question directly.)
    • Cô ấy ầm ừ một hồi rồi cuối cùng cũng đồng ý. (She hesitated for a while and then finally agreed.)
Advanced Usage

  • "ầm ừ cho qua chuyện": To hum and haw in order to gloss over or slide past a matter; to give vague responses to avoid dealing with an issue.

    • Anh ta không biết phải nói gì nên chỉ ầm ừ cho qua chuyện. (He didn't know what to say, so he just hummed and hawed to slide past the matter.)

  • "ầm à ầm ừ" (reduplicative form): To hum and haw repeatedly or persistently; indicates a stronger, more prolonged sense of hesitation or evasiveness.

    • Sau mười phút ầm à ầm ừ, ông chủ vẫn chưa đưa ra câu trả lời. (After ten minutes of repeated humming and hawing, the boss still hadn't given an answer.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Ngập ngừng (verb): To falter, to hesitate (often in speech or action). Focuses more on the pause itself.
  • Lưỡng lự (verb): To be indecisive, to waver. Focuses more on the state of indecision.
  • Nói quanh (verb): To beat around the bush. Focuses more on speaking indirectly.
Synonyms
  • Hesitate: To pause before saying or doing something because of uncertainty.
  • Equivocate: To use ambiguous language to conceal the truth or avoid commitment.
  • Stall: To delay or avoid answering by employing various tactics.
Related Idioms
  • "Nói trước quên sau, nói sau quên trước": To speak inconsistently or contradict oneself (can be a result of "ầm ừ").
  • "Vòng vo tam quốc": To talk in a very roundabout way, beating around the bush extensively.
ầm ừ

Khi được hỏi về kế hoạch, anh ấy chỉ biết ầm ừ.

verb
  1. To hum and haw, to hum and ha, to hem and haw
    • ầm ừ cho qua chuyện
      to hum and haw and slide over some business
    • ầm à ầm ừ
      to hum and haw repeatedly

Từ gần giống

Từ chứa "ầm ừ"