Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To argue / to quarrel: The primary meaning of "cãi nhau" is to engage in a verbal conflict or disagreement, often involving anger, raised voices, and opposing viewpoints between two or more people.
   • To bicker / to squabble: It can describe a less serious, often petty or repeated argument, typically about trivial matters.
   • To have a row / to have a fight: In more intense contexts, it means to have a serious, heated argument or confrontation.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Hai anh em thường xuyên cãi nhau về chuyện nhỏ. (The two brothers often argue about small things.)
  • Họ cãi nhau rất to, hàng xóm đều nghe thấy. (They had a huge argument; all the neighbors heard it.)
  • Đừng cãi nhau nữa, hãy bình tĩnh nói chuyện. (Stop quarreling; let's talk calmly.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase inherently involves a reciprocal action between parties. It is less formal than "tranh luận" (to debate) and implies conflict.
• It can be used with modifiers to indicate intensity, e.g., "cãi nhau kịch liệt" (to argue fiercely), "cãi nhau om sòm" (to argue noisily).

Variants and Related Words

• Cãi (v): to argue, to dispute (can be one-sided or used in "cãi lại" meaning to talk back).
  • Cô ấy không bao giờ cãi lời mẹ. (She never talks back to her mother.)
• Tranh cãi (v/n): to dispute, to contend; a dispute/debate (often more formal or focused on an issue than personal).
  • Đây là một vấn đề gây nhiều tranh cãi. (This is a highly controversial issue.)

Synonyms

• Argue: to express opposing views in a heated manner.
• Quarrel: to have an angry argument.
• Bicker: to argue about petty things.
• Squabble: to engage in a noisy, trivial quarrel.
• Row (UK): to have a noisy argument.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Cãi nhau như mổ bò: To argue fiercely and noisily (literally: to argue like butchering a cow).
  • Họ cãi nhau như mổ bò cả tiếng đồng hồ. (They argued fiercely for a whole hour.)
• Cãi chày cãi cối: To argue stubbornly and relentlessly (literally: to argue like a pestle and mortar).
  • Anh ấy cứ cãi chày cãi cối dù biết mình sai. (He kept arguing stubbornly even though he knew he was wrong.)