speechless

/ˈspiːtʃləs/

C1adjective

Temporarily unable to speak, usually because of strong emotion such as anger, surprise, or shock.

Concreteness 2.4/5 · Abstract

Tiếng Việt

không nói nên lời

XPÍT-ch-lợt-s

Nhấn mạnh âm tiết đầu 'XPÍT', âm 'ch' bật nhẹ, âm cuối 'lợt-s' đọc lướt nhanh và có âm 's' ở cuối.

Tạm thời không thể nói được, thường là do cảm xúc mạnh như tức giận, ngạc nhiên hoặc sốc.

Meanings

3 meanings

1Not able to speak, especially because you are extremely angry or surprised.emotions
Không thể nói được, đặc biệt là do bạn đang cực kỳ tức giận hoặc ngạc nhiên.
“Laura was speechless with rage.”
“Laura đã tức giận đến mức không nói nên lời.”
- Rachel stood speechless.
- The news left us all speechless.
- She came out of the office followed by a speechless Charles.
- Her remark left me speechless.
Cấu trúc phổ biến là 'speechless with + danh từ chỉ cảm xúc' (ví dụ: rage, anger, surprise). Trong tiếng Việt, ta thường dịch là 'tức giận/ngạc nhiên đến mức không nói nên lời'.
2Not speaking; not knowing what to say; silent, especially due to amazement or shock.literary
Không nói; không biết phải nói gì; im lặng, đặc biệt là do kinh ngạc hoặc sốc.
“He looked at her with speechless devotion.”
“Anh ấy nhìn cô với sự sùng kính đến mức không thốt nên lời.”
- The beauty of the landscape rendered them speechless.
Nghĩa này thường mang sắc thái văn chương (literary). Có thể dịch là 'sững sờ', 'lặng người' hoặc 'không thốt nên lời'.
3Synonym of unspeakable; unable to be expressed in words.literary
Đồng nghĩa với 'unspeakable'; không thể diễn tả bằng lời.
“They suffered a speechless agony.”
“Họ đã phải chịu đựng một nỗi đau đớn không thể tả xiết.”
Đây là cách dùng cổ (old-fashioned) và ít gặp trong giao tiếp hàng ngày. Người học nên tập trung vào hai nghĩa đầu tiên.

Word bank

Synonyms

Near synonyms

Antonyms

Common phrases

be speechless
remain speechless
sit speechless
completely speechless
totally speechless
almost speechless
speechless with

Grammar & forms

Word family

speechlesslyadverb
speechlessnessnoun

Usage patterns

be speechless with something
leave somebody speechless
remain speechless

Avoid mistakes

Common mistakes

I was speechless from the news.
The news left me speechless.
It is more natural to say something 'left you speechless' rather than being speechless 'from' something.
He is a speechless person.
He is a quiet person.
'Speechless' describes a temporary state caused by emotion, not a permanent personality trait.
She was speechless of anger.
She was speechless with anger.
Use the preposition 'with' to indicate the emotion causing the speechlessness.
The speechless movie was good.
The silent movie was good.
Use 'silent' for films or things that do not produce sound, not 'speechless'.
I am speechless to say anything.
I am too speechless to say anything.
'Speechless' is rarely followed directly by an infinitive verb without an adverb like 'too'.

Don't confuse with

mute
physically unable to speak or choosing not to speak
“The child was born mute.”
Use 'speechless' for a temporary inability to speak due to strong emotion, and 'mute' for a permanent condition or deliberate choice.
silent
not making any sound or not speaking
“The room was completely silent.”
'Silent' describes the absence of noise, while 'speechless' specifically describes a person's inability to form words due to shock or emotion.

Academic collocations

Words that pair with "speechless" in formal and academic writing

verb: leaverenderremainstand
adjective: completelyutterlytotallyalmost
noun: rageamazementhorrorshock
preposition: with

In context

Real-world examples

sports
The stunning victory of the Vietnamese women's football team left the nation speechless.
Chiến thắng ngoạn mục của đội tuyển bóng đá nữ Việt Nam đã khiến cả nước không nói nên lời.
Football is highly celebrated in Vietnam, and national victories evoke strong, overwhelming emotions.
daily life
When she saw the final bill for the Tet holiday shopping, she was completely speechless.
Khi nhìn thấy hóa đơn cuối cùng cho việc mua sắm Tết, cô ấy hoàn toàn cạn lời.
Tet shopping is a major cultural event in Vietnam, often involving significant expenses that can be shocking.
business
The CEO's sudden resignation left the entire board of directors speechless.
Sự từ chức đột ngột của Giám đốc điều hành đã khiến toàn bộ hội đồng quản trị á khẩu.
In Vietnamese corporate culture, sudden leadership changes are highly shocking and disruptive.
daily life
He was speechless with anger when he discovered his motorbike had been stolen.
Anh ấy tức giận đến mức không nói nên lời khi phát hiện chiếc xe máy của mình bị trộm.
Motorbikes are the primary mode of transport in Vietnam, making their theft a deeply upsetting and common fear.
travel
The beauty of Ha Long Bay at sunset rendered the tourists speechless.
Vẻ đẹp của Vịnh Hạ Long lúc hoàng hôn đã khiến các du khách sững sờ không thốt nên lời.
Ha Long Bay is a proud natural heritage of Vietnam, famous for its breathtaking scenery that often leaves visitors in awe.

Notes for Vietnamese speakers

In modern Vietnamese slang, young people often use the phrase 'cạn lời' or 'hạn hán lời' to express being speechless, especially in situations of disbelief, frustration, or when someone does something ridiculous.
The formal translation 'không nói nên lời' is preferred in literature, news, and formal contexts, while 'á khẩu' is often used when someone is stunned into silence by a sharp argument or shocking revelation.

Etymology

From Old English 'spæcleas' (lacking speech), equivalent to speech + -less. The semantic development evolved from a literal inability to speak to a temporary state caused by overwhelming emotion.

Exam levels

IELTS

7.0

CEFR

TOEIC

805-850