Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Improper, wrong, unacceptable: Refers to actions, words, or behavior that are incorrect, inappropriate, or violate common standards of decency or conduct.
   • Nonsensical, absurd: Describes speech or ideas that are foolish, illogical, or without sense.

2. Interjection:

   • Nonsense!, Wrong!: Used as an exclamation to strongly reject or correct something said or thought, emphasizing that it is incorrect or absurd.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Đừng nói bậy trước mặt trẻ con. (Don't talk improperly in front of children.)
  • Hành động bậy bạ đó không được chấp nhận. (That improper/indecent action is not acceptable.)
  • Lý luận của anh ta hoàn toàn bậy. (His reasoning is completely nonsensical.)
• Interjection:
  • Bậy! Làm gì có chuyện đó. (Nonsense! That's impossible.)
  • Bậy, đừng có nghĩ vớ vẩn! (Wrong, don't think such absurd things!)

Advanced Usage

• "cãi bậy": to argue back improperly or brazenly; to talk back in a wrong or defiant manner.
  • Không được cãi bậy với người lớn. (You must not talk back improperly to adults.)
• "bậy bạ": This intensified form often carries a stronger connotation of being morally wrong, indecent, or dirty.
  • Bọn trẻ không nên đọc những truyện bậy bạ. (Children shouldn't read indecent stories.)

Variants and Related Words

• Làm bậy (v): to do something wrong or improper.
  • Nó đã làm bậy và bị phạt. (He did something wrong and was punished.)
• Nghĩ bậy (v): to think improper/indecent thoughts; to think wrongly.
  • Đầu óc anh toàn nghĩ bậy. (Your mind is always thinking indecent thoughts.)

Synonyms

• Improper: Not in accordance with accepted rules or standards.
• Wrong: Not correct or true; incorrect.
• Nonsensical: Having no meaning; making no sense.
• Absurd: Wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate.

Related Idioms

• Ăn nói bậy bạ: To speak in a foul-mouthed or indecent manner.
  • Thằng bé mới lớn, hay ăn nói bậy bạ. (The boy is a teenager and often speaks foully.)
• Chơi bậy: To act or play in a harmful, destructive, or improper way.
  • Ra công viên chơi, đừng có chơi bậy. (Go play in the park, but don't play destructively.)

adj

1. Brazen
   • đã trái lý còn cãi bậy
     though in the wrong, he still brazenly argued
2. Wrong, nonsensical, improper
   • nói bậy
     to talk improperly, to talk nonsense
   • đừng vẽ bậy lên tường
     don't make improper drawings on the walls; no improper graphiti on the walls
   • bậy! đừng nghĩ vớ vẩn
     nonsense! don't think of absurdities