Definition

1. Onomatopoeia / Verb:
   • To make a continuous, repetitive, and often annoying sound: Describes a sound that is sharp, grating, and persistent, like the chirping of crickets, the squeaking of an un-oiled door, or someone talking incessantly in a high-pitched, nagging manner.
   • To nag or complain persistently: Used figuratively to describe the act of talking in a whining, scolding, or fault-finding way without stop.

Usage Examples

• Onomatopoeia / Verb:
  • Con muỗi cứ chem chép bên tai suốt đêm. (The mosquito kept buzzing annoyingly near my ear all night.)
  • Cái cửa sổ cũ kêu chem chép mỗi khi có gió. (The old window squeaks persistently whenever there's wind.)
  • Bà ấy cứ chem chép mãi về chuyện tiền nong. (She keeps nagging incessantly about money matters.)

Advanced Usage

• "chem chép hoài/chem chép suốt ngày": to nag/whine/complain all the time.
  • Đừng có chem chép hoài như vậy, nghe mệt lắm. (Stop nagging like that all the time; it's exhausting to listen to.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chêm chép (onomatopoeia/verb): A common variant with the same meaning, describing a repetitive chewing sound or a nagging talk.
  • Nó ngồi chêm chép nhai kẹo cao su. (He sat there chewing gum with a repetitive smacking sound.)
• Lèm bèm (verb): To talk nonsense or chatter pointlessly; similar in conveying annoying, trivial talk but less focused on the sound itself.
• Càu nhàu (verb): To grumble or mutter in discontent; focuses more on the tone of complaint rather than the repetitive sound.

Synonyms

• Kêu rên rỉ: to whine, to moan.
• Cằn nhằn: to nag, to find fault.
• Lải nhải: to chatter or nag on and on.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(This word is primarily an onomatopoeia/verb and does not commonly form phrasal verbs in the same way English verbs do. Its usage is typically standalone or with adverbs like "hoài," "mãi.")

Related Idioms

• Chem chép như ve sầu: To chirp/noisily like a cicada (used to describe very loud, persistent, and annoying noise or talk).
  • Mấy đứa trẻ chem chép như ve sầu làm tôi không tập trung được. (The children are chattering noisily like cicadas, making me unable to concentrate.)

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