ừ ào
Definition
- Interjection / Verb (used as a predicate):
- To give a vague, non-committal, or evasive reply: The primary meaning is to respond to someone with indistinct, dismissive, or敷衍 sounds (like "uh-huh") to avoid giving a direct answer or to end a conversation quickly without real engagement.
- To agree or assent superficially: To say "yes" in a perfunctory, insincere, or absent-minded manner, often while preoccupied or simply to placate the speaker.
Usage Examples
- Interjection / Verb:
- Khi mẹ hỏi, nó chỉ ừ ào cho qua chuyện. (When his mother asked, he just gave a vague reply to get it over with.)
- Đừng có ừ ào khi tôi đang nói chuyện với anh! (Don't just say 'uh-huh' when I'm talking to you!)
- Anh ấy ừ ào một tiếng rồi tiếp tục đọc báo. (He muttered a non-committal 'yes' and continued reading the newspaper.)
Advanced Usage
- The word is often used in the reduplicated form "ừ ừ ào ào" to intensify the meaning, indicating a completely evasive or utterly敷衍 series of responses.
- Cứ hỏi là nó ừ ừ ào ào, chẳng thèm nghe mình nói gì. (Whenever you ask, he just goes 'uh-huh, yeah yeah,' not even listening to what you're saying.)
Variants and Related Words
- Ừ (interjection): A simple, short agreement meaning "yes" or "okay," which can be sincere. "Ừ ào" adds a layer of vagueness or insincerity to this basic agreement.
- Qua loa (adjective/adverb): Meaning perfunctory, superficial, or done in a slipshod manner. It describes a similar attitude but for actions, while "ừ ào" is specific to verbal responses.
Synonyms
- To mumble an agreement: To agree indistinctly.
- To respond evasively: To avoid giving a direct answer.
- To brush off (verbally): To dismiss or deal with a question or speaker in a cursory way.
Related Idioms
- Ừ ào cho xong chuyện: To give an evasive answer just to finish the matter.
- Anh ta không quan tâm, chỉ ừ ào cho xong chuyện. (He didn't care, he just gave a vague answer to be done with it.)