Definition

1. Verb:

   • To expose to public shame or ridicule: The primary meaning of "bêu" is to deliberately display someone or something in a public manner to cause humiliation, disgrace, or to serve as a warning.
   • To parade or display (something negative): It involves making an embarrassing fault, mistake, or shameful aspect openly visible to others.

2. Adjective (colloquial):

   • Shameful, disgraceful: Used to describe a situation, action, or person that is considered deeply embarrassing or dishonorable.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Họ bêu tên những kẻ phản bội trên báo. (They exposed the names of the traitors in the newspaper.)
  • Đừng nói nữa, mày chỉ đang tự bêu cái dốt của mình ra thôi. (Stop talking; you're just exposing your own ignorance.)
• Adjective:
  • Thua đội yếu nhất, bêu quá! (Losing to the weakest team is so shameful!)

Advanced Usage

• The verb often carries a strong connotation of malicious intent or public scorn. It is not a neutral term for "display."
• In historical or literary contexts, it can refer to the act of displaying severed heads or bodies as a grim warning or act of terror.

Variants and Related Words

• Bêu riếu (v): to defame, to smear someone's reputation publicly.
  • Hắn ta thích bêu riếu người khác. (He likes to defame others.)

Synonyms

• To shame: To cause someone to feel ashamed.
• To disgrace: To bring dishonor or public shame upon.
• To expose: To make something hidden or secret publicly known, especially something damaging.
• To parade: To display something ostentatiously, often to invite negative attention.

Related Idioms

• Bêu đầu: Literally "to display the head"; refers to the ancient practice of displaying a severed head in public.
  • Giặc bêu đầu người chỉ huy để uy hiếp dân làng. (The enemy displayed the commander's head to intimidate the villagers.)
• Bêu xấu: To publicly expose someone's flaws or ugliness (literal or figurative).
  • Bài báo đó chỉ nhằm mục đích bêu xấu công ty đối thủ. (That article only aims to publicly disgrace the rival company.)

verb

1. To display, to expose to shame