Definition

1. Verb:
   • To argue absurdly and obstinately; to quibble; to be argumentative: To engage in unreasonable, stubborn, and often illogical argumentation, refusing to accept another's point of view.

Usage

• This verb describes a negative communication style characterized by stubbornness and a lack of sound reasoning. It is often used in informal or colloquial contexts to criticize someone's argumentative behavior.
• It typically functions as a predicate verb in a sentence.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy cứ chày cối mãi, không chịu nghe lời khuyên của ai. (He keeps arguing obstinately, refusing to listen to anyone's advice.)
  • Đừng có chày cối với tôi nữa, sự việc đã rõ ràng rồi. (Stop quibbling with me; the matter is already clear.)
  • Mỗi lần thảo luận là nó lại chày cối, không bao giờ chịu thua. (Every time we discuss something, he argues stubbornly and never admits defeat.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "chày cối" is often used in its reduplicated form "cãi chày cãi cối" for emphasis, which is listed separately below.
• It implies a sense of futility and annoyance in the argument.

Variants and Related Words

• Cãi chày cãi cối (idiomatic phrase): To argue back stubbornly and endlessly.
  • Nó cãi chày cãi cối dù biết mình đã sai. (He kept arguing stubbornly even though he knew he was wrong.)
• Cố chấp (adjective): Obstinate, stubborn (describing a person's character).
• Ngoan cố (adjective): Recalcitrant, obdurate (often with a stronger, more negative connotation).

Synonyms

• Cãi bướng: To argue defiantly.
• Cãi lẽ: To argue sophistically; to quibble over details.
• Nói cùn: To argue in a blunt, obstinate manner (colloquial).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Chày cối cãi lại: To argue back obstinately (as seen in the reference). This is a common collocation.
  • Đứa bé chày cối cãi lại mẹ nó. (The child argued back obstinately with his mother.)

1. (thông tục) To reason absurdly and obstinately, to quibble