bợm bãi
Definition
Noun: * A habitual gambler; a person addicted to gambling: "bợm bãi" refers to someone who frequently engages in gambling, often to a problematic or excessive degree. It implies a person whose life or habits revolve around betting games. * A rogue, a scoundrel (archaic/colloquial): In a broader, more old-fashioned or slang sense, it can describe a deceitful or untrustworthy person, similar to "bợm".
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Anh ta là một tay bợm bãi nổi tiếng trong thành phố. (He is a famous gambler in the city.)
- Cảnh sát đã bắt giữ một nhóm bợm bãi tại sòng bạc chui. (The police arrested a group of habitual gamblers at the illegal casino.)
- Đừng tin hắn, hắn là đồ bợm bãi! (Don't trust him, he's a scoundrel!)
Advanced Usage
- The word is a compound of "bợm" (expert, connoisseur, often with negative connotation) and "bãi" (which can refer to a gambling den or a place of vice). Together, they strongly emphasize the association with the gambling scene.
- It carries a distinctly negative and judgmental connotation, often implying moral failure, addiction, and association with vice.
Variants and Related Words
- Bợm (n): A more general term for a rogue, scoundrel, or a person who is cunningly skilled in something (often negative, e.g., "bợm rượu" - a heavy drinker/alcoholic, "bợm già" - an old fox/very cunning person).
- Con bạc (n): Gambler. This is a more standard, neutral term for a person who gambles, though it can also imply habit.
- Nghiện cờ bạc (v/n): To be addicted to gambling / gambling addiction.
Synonyms
- Con bạc: Gambler.
- Kẻ cờ bạc: Gambler (literary/formal).
- Kẻ lưu manh: Rogue, hoodlum (for the "scoundrel" meaning).
Related Idioms/Phrases
- Bợm già, bợm non: Experienced rogue vs. novice rogue. Used to describe levels of cunning or skill in deceitful practices.
- Tên đó là bợm già, mày là bợm non, đừng có đọ với hắn. (That guy is an old fox, you're just a novice, don't try to outsmart him.)