ngần ngại
[ŋən˨˩ ŋaːj˧˨ʔ]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(verb) to hesitate (to); to hold back (from); to be reluctant (to)
Verb
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Tom đã ngần ngại.Tom hesitated.
Tatoeba sentence #13338449 (CC BY 2.0 FR, tatoeba.org, retrieved 2026-07-31)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Common questions
What does “ngần ngại” mean?
(verb) to hesitate (to); to hold back (from); to be reluctant (to)
Is “ngần ngại” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.