# ngại meaning in Vietnamese: shy (A1)

> ngại means “shy, hesitant” in Vietnamese. Examples with audio, in Northern and Southern wording.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/ngai-hesitant/ · Updated 2026-10-18

**ngại**: hesitant

Level: A1 (our estimate)

Typed without accents: ngai

## 1. hesitant (adjective)

shy, hesitant, reluctant, awkward

*Đừng ngại* means "don't be shy, go ahead"; *ngại quá* means "I feel bad (for troubling you)".

- Có gì cần thì nói, đừng ngại nha. — If you need anything, just say, don't be shy.
- Em ngại nói tiếng Việt. — I feel shy about speaking Vietnamese.

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