Definition

1. Verb:
   • To fabricate a false story, to spread false rumors: The act of intentionally creating and spreading untrue information or stories, often to harm someone's reputation or cause trouble.
   • To slander, to defame: To make false and damaging statements about someone.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đừng bao giờ đặt điều cho người khác. (Never fabricate stories about others.)
  • Cô ấy bị buộc tội đặt điều nói xấu đồng nghiệp. (She was accused of fabricating stories to badmouth her colleague.)
  • Những kẻ hay đặt điều thường không được tin cậy. (Those who often spread false rumors are usually not trusted.)

Advanced Usage

• "đặt điều đặt chuyện": A common reduplicative phrase emphasizing the act of making up stories.

  • Anh ta chuyên đặt điều đặt chuyện để gây mâu thuẫn. (He specializes in fabricating stories to create conflict.)

• "bịa chuyện, đặt điều": Often used together with synonyms like "bịa chuyện" (to make up stories) for emphasis.

  • Bài báo đó toàn là bịa chuyện, đặt điều. (That article is full of made-up stories and fabrications.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bịa đặt (verb): To fabricate, to concoct (a false story). A close synonym.

  • Tin tức đó hoàn toàn là bịa đặt. (That news is completely fabricated.)

• Vu khống (verb): To slander, to libel. A more formal legal term for making false accusations.

  • Hành động vu khống có thể bị khởi tố. (The act of slander can be prosecuted.)

• Nói xấu (verb phrase): To speak ill of, to badmouth. While it can be based on truth or falsehood, "đặt điều" implies the content is fabricated.

  • Nói xấu sau lưng là hành vi đáng chê trách. (Badmouthing behind someone's back is a blameworthy act.)

Synonyms

• Bịa chuyện: To make up stories.
• Thêu dệt: To embellish (a story), often leading to falsification.
• Bốc phét (colloquial): To talk big, to boast, which can involve fabrication.

Related Phrases

• Đặt điều nói xấu: To fabricate stories to badmouth someone.

  • Động cơ của hắn là đặt điều nói xấu đối thủ. (His motive is to fabricate stories to badmouth his rival.)

• Đi đặt điều: To go around spreading fabricated stories (emphasizing the action).

  • Cô ta đi đặt điều khắp nơi về chuyện đó. (She went everywhere spreading fabricated stories about that matter.)

Related Idioms

• "Ăn không nói có": Literally "To eat nothing but say there is something"; meaning to claim something exists or happened when it did not, to fabricate.

  • Đừng tin anh ta, anh ta hay ăn không nói có. (Don't believe him, he often fabricates things.)

• "Vẽ chuyện": Literally "To draw/paint a story"; meaning to invent or concoct a story.

  • Câu chuyện anh kể nghe như vẽ chuyện. (The story you told sounds made-up.)

1. Fabricate a false story
   • Đặt điều cho ai
     To faabricate a false story directed against someone