bàng quan

Vietnamese

Etymology

    Sino-Vietnamese word from 旁觀 (to be an onlooker).

    Pronunciation

    • (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [ʔɓaːŋ˨˩ kwaːn˧˧]
    • (Huế) IPA(key): [ʔɓaːŋ˦˩ kwaːŋ˧˧]
    • (Saigon) IPA(key): [ʔɓaːŋ˨˩ waːŋ˧˧]
    • Homophone: bàng quang

    Adjective

    bàng quan

    1. (formal) indifferent to something that is not to be taken lightly, such as a serious social problem, someone else's accident, etc.; apathetic
      Synonym: thờ ơ

    Usage notes