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.

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