Tiếng Việt · Word Attested

ngấp nghé

[ŋəp̚˧˦ ŋɛ˧˦]

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

(verb) to nearly reach, near

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

gần đạt, gần chạm

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora

tuổi ngấp nghé 80to near the age of 80

Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Sources & notes

Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

(verb) to approach hesitantly; to hover near; to sneak a peek at

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

tiếp cận rụt rè, lén lút

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

đứng ngấp nghé ngoài cổngto stand hesitantly outside the gate

Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

(verb) to show romantic interest in; to eye flirtatiously; to make a move on shyly

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

tìm cách quyến rũ, tán tỉnh

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

được nhiều chàng trai ngấp nghéto be eyed by many young men

Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Topics: Cattle

What does “ngấp nghé” mean?

(verb) to nearly reach, near

Is “ngấp nghé” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.