Definition

1. Verb:
   • To criticize, to find fault with: To express disapproval or a negative opinion about someone or something, often by pointing out perceived flaws or shortcomings.
   • To reject, to refuse: To decline something because it is considered unsatisfactory, unsuitable, or not good enough.
   • To disdain, to look down on: To regard or treat something with contempt, considering it unworthy of acceptance or respect.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy chê bức tranh này màu sắc quá u tối. (She criticized this painting for having colors that are too dark.)
  • Đứa trẻ chê món ăn và không chịu ăn. (The child refused the food and wouldn't eat it.)
  • Anh ta chê công việc này tầm thường. (He disdained this job as being beneath him.)

Advanced Usage

• "chê ỏng chê eo" / "chê bai": to nitpick, to find fault constantly and over minor details.

  • Cô ấy chê ỏng chê eo căn phòng, từ đồ đạc đến cách trang trí. (She nitpicked the room, from the furniture to the decoration.)

• "không chê vào đâu được": to be irreproachable, impeccable; to be beyond criticism.

  • Thái độ phục vụ ở đây không chê vào đâu được. (The service attitude here is impeccable.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chê trách (v): to reproach, to blame.

  • Anh ấy chê trách tôi vì đã đến muộn. (He reproached me for being late.)

• Chê cười (v): to mock, to ridicule.

  • Đừng chê cười sai lầm của người khác. (Don't mock other people's mistakes.)

Synonyms

• Criticize: to indicate the faults of someone or something.
• Reject: to refuse to accept or consider.
• Disparage: to regard or represent as being of little worth.
• Disdain: to consider unworthy of one's consideration.

Related Idioms

• Vụng múa chê đất lệch: Literally "clumsy at dancing, (but) blame the uneven floor." It means a bad workman always blames his tools.

  • Anh ta không chuẩn bị bài mà bị điểm kém, đúng là vụng múa chê đất lệch. (He didn't prepare for the lesson and got a bad grade; it's a classic case of a bad workman blaming his tools.)

• Cao chê ngỏng, thấp chê lùn: Literally "tall, criticize as lanky; short, criticize as stunted." It describes a person who is overly critical and impossible to please.

  • Làm việc với sếp đó rất khó vì ông ấy kiểu cao chê ngỏng, thấp chê lùn. (Working with that boss is hard because he's the type who is never satisfied and always finds fault.)

verb

1. To make little of, to run down
   • Nói chín thì làm nên mười Nói mười làm chín, kẻ cười người chê
     For nine things promised, one should do ten; If for ten things promised, one does only nine, one will be made little of and sneered at
   • lợn chê cám
     the pig cared little for bran soup (because of some illness)
   • chê ỏng chê eo
     to be overparticular about details of a thing to choose; to pick and choose

Idioms

• vụng múa chê đất lệch
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