Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Excessively fatty or oily; having an unpleasantly high fat content that coats the mouth: Describes food that is overly rich in fat or oil, creating a heavy, cloying, or sometimes nauseating sensation when eaten.
   • Greasy, rich, unctuous: Often used to describe dishes, broths, or sauces that are so fatty they feel heavy and overwhelming on the palate.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Món thịt kho này béo ngậy quá, tôi không ăn nổi. (This braised pork dish is too greasy; I can't eat it.)
  • Nước dùng phở ở quán này béo ngậy nhưng rất thơm. (The pho broth at this shop is rich and fatty but very fragrant.)
  • Bánh ngọt ấy phủ một lớp kem béo ngậy. (That cake is covered with a layer of unctuous cream.)

Advanced Usage

• Implied Negative Connotation: While "béo" (fatty) can be neutral or positive, adding "ngậy" (or its variant "ngấy") almost always implies an excessive, unpleasant quality. It suggests the food is too much to enjoy comfortably.
  • Ăn một miếng thì ngon, nhưng ăn nhiều sẽ thấy béo ngậy. (One bite is delicious, but eating a lot will make it feel too greasy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Béo ngấy: A common variant with the same meaning. "Ngấy" emphasizes the cloying, sickly feeling from excessive fat.
  • Món lẩu có nhiều mỡ, dễ gây cảm giác béo ngấy. (The hot pot has a lot of fat, easily causing a greasy, cloying sensation.)
• Béo: Fatty, oily (can be neutral or positive).
• Ngậy: Sometimes used alone in the North to describe a desirable, rich, and creamy fat content (e.g., in avocado or durian), but when combined with "béo," it typically becomes negative.

Synonyms

• Nhiều mỡ: Very fatty.
• Bóng dầu: Oily, greasy (visually).
• Ngấy: Cloying, sickly sweet or rich.

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Béo đến ngậy: An emphatic form meaning "extremely and unpleasantly greasy."
  • Món ăn này béo đến ngậy, cần giảm bớt dầu mỡ. (This dish is extremely greasy; it needs less oil and fat.)

1. Greasy