Definition

Verb (often used as an adjective) To have a facial expression showing displeasure, irritation, or anger; to frown or scowl persistently. It describes a state of being sullen, grumpy, or bad-tempered, often reflected in a wrinkled or furrowed brow and a generally unhappy demeanor.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy cau có với mọi người. (He scowls at everyone.)
  • Đừng cau có như vậy, hãy vui lên! (Don't be so sullen like that, cheer up!)
• Adjective-like usage:
  • Nét mặt cau có. (A scowling expression. / There is a scowl on his/her face.)
  • Tính tình anh ta lúc nào cũng cau có. (His temperament is always grumpy.)

Advanced Usage

• "cau có, gắt gỏng": A common paired phrase meaning "sullen and irritable/snappy." It emphasizes a combination of a bad mood and sharp, impatient speech.
  • Sau một ngày làm việc mệt mỏi, anh ấy trở về nhà với vẻ mặt cau có, gắt gỏng. (After a tiring workday, he returned home with a sullen and irritable look.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cau mày (verb): To frown, to knit one's brows. This focuses more on the specific action of wrinkling the forehead, often due to concentration, thought, or mild displeasure. "Cau có" implies a more prolonged and pronounced state of irritation.
  • Cô ấy cau mày khi đọc báo cáo phức tạp. (She frowned while reading the complex report.)
• Nhăn nhó (verb): To grimace, to make a face expressing pain, disgust, or strong displeasure. It often involves more of the entire face (mouth, nose) and can be a reaction to physical sensation.
  • Đứa trẻ nhăn nhó vì vị thuốc đắng. (The child grimaced because of the bitter medicine.)

Synonyms

• Cáu kỉnh (adj): Irritable, easily annoyed.
• Gắt gỏng (adj): Snappy, short-tempered, sharp in speech.
• Khó chịu (adj): Uncomfortable, displeased, annoyed (a more general term for feeling bothered).

Related Idioms

• Mặt cau như khỉ ăn ớt: (Face as scowled as a monkey eating chili) A humorous, vivid idiom describing an extremely sour, scowling, or displeased facial expression.
  • Nghe tin đó, mặt anh ta cau như khỉ ăn ớt. (Hearing that news, his face scowled like a monkey eating chili.)

verb

1. To scowl
   • cau có với mọi người
     to scowl at everybody
   • nét mặt cau có
     there is a scowl on his face