chết đứng

Vietnamese

Etymology

chết (“dead”) +‎ đứng (“stand/motionless”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕet̚˧˦ ʔɗɨŋ˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕet̚˦˧˥ ʔɗɨŋ˦˧˥]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [cəːt̚˦˥ ʔɗɨŋ˦˥]

Verb

chết đứng

1. (literal) to die while still standing
2. to be stupefied; to be dumbfounded; to be dumbstruck; to be paralyzed
3. to be in a bind; to be in a pickle; to be stuck hopelessly