chua ngút
Definition
- Adjective:
- Extremely sour or tart: Describes a taste that is intensely and sharply acidic, often unpleasantly so.
- Figuratively, bitingly sarcastic or caustic: Used to describe speech, criticism, or a tone that is harsh, sharp, and bitter.
Usage Examples
- Adjective (Taste):
- Quả xoài này chua ngút. (This mango is extremely sour.)
- Nước chanh pha không đường, chua ngút. (The unsweetened lemonade is piercingly tart.)
- Adjective (Speech/Tone):
- Lời phê bình của cô ấy chua ngút. (Her criticism was bitingly caustic.)
- Anh ấy đáp lại bằng một giọng chua ngút. (He replied in a tone dripping with sarcasm.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used for emphasis, combining "chua" (sour) with "ngút" (to rise high, like smoke or a strong smell) to evoke an overwhelming, rising intensity of sourness or bitterness.
Variants and Related Words
- Chua (adj): Sour, tart.
- Chua chát (adj): Bitter, acrimonious (often for speech or emotion).
- Ngút (verb/adj): To rise high (e.g., of smoke, flames); can imply great intensity.
Synonyms
- Puckeringly sour: So sour it makes the mouth pucker.
- Acrid: Bitterly pungent (can apply to taste or tone).
- Vitriolic: Filled with bitter criticism or malice.
Related Idioms
- Chua như giấm: As sour as vinegar (a common simile for extreme sourness).
- Giọng nói chua ngoa: A shrewish or acerbic voice.