chọc gan
Definition
- Verb:
- To provoke, to irritate, to annoy: "chọc gan" means to deliberately say or do something to make someone angry or upset. It implies an action intended to get a strong, negative emotional reaction, often by targeting what the person cares about or finds sensitive.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Đừng chọc gan anh ấy nữa, anh ấy sắp nổi điên rồi. (Stop provoking him, he's about to get really angry.)
- Mấy câu nói đó của cô ta chỉ để chọc gan tôi thôi. (Those remarks of hers were just meant to annoy me.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used to describe persistent, teasing, or needling behavior that is known to upset someone. It carries a stronger connotation than simply teasing ("trêu chọc") and is closer to "getting on someone's nerves" with malicious or careless intent.
Variants and Related Words
- Chọc tức (verb): to provoke, to irritate. A very close synonym.
- Chọc giận (verb): to make angry, to provoke to anger.
- Trêu chọc (verb): to tease, to kid. This is generally lighter and less malicious than "chọc gan".
Synonyms
- Khiêu khích: to provoke, to challenge (often in a more confrontational or aggressive context).
- Làm phát cáu: to make (someone) flare up in anger.
- Làm tức giận: to make angry.
Related Idioms
- Chọc gậy bánh xe: Literally "to poke a stick into the wheel spokes". This idiom means to deliberately cause trouble or sabotage, which is related to the provocative nature of "chọc gan".