Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Earpiercing; strident: Describes a sound that is extremely loud, high-pitched, sharp, and unpleasant to the ear, causing discomfort or pain.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tiếng còi báo động nghe thật chát tai. (The alarm siren sounds truly earpiercing.)
  • Giọng hát của cô ấy hơi chát tai trong đoạn cao trào. (Her singing voice is a bit strident during the climax.)
  • Âm thanh từ loa bị rè nghe rất chát tai. (The distorted sound from the speaker is very grating to the ear.)

Advanced Usage

• The adjective chát tai is often used to criticize sounds that are not only loud but also harsh, metallic, or shrill in quality, suggesting a lack of harmony or pleasantness.

Variants and Related Words

• Chói tai (adj): Dazzling to the eye or, less commonly, piercing to the ear (similar to chát tai but can be more visual).
  • Ánh đèn pha chiếu thẳng rất chói tai. (The headlights shining directly are very dazzling.)

Synonyms

• Piercing: Very loud and sharp in sound.
• Shrill: High-pitched and piercing in an unpleasant way.
• Grating: Harsh and irritating to the ear.
• Jarring: Incongruous in a striking or shocking way; often used for sound.

Related Idioms

• While chát tai itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, it is used descriptively in phrases criticizing noise.
  • Tiếng ồn chát tai đến mức không thể chịu nổi. (The noise was so earpiercing it became unbearable.)

1. Ear
2. piercing; strident.