Definition

1. Verb:
   • To speak scornfully of; to disparage: To express strong disapproval or contempt for someone or something, often in a harsh or belittling manner.
   • To criticize negatively; to find fault with: To point out perceived flaws, shortcomings, or lack of quality in a disapproving way.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Dư luận chê bai anh ta đối xử với vợ không tốt. (Public opinion speaks scornfully of him because of his bad treatment of his wife.)
  • Xin đừng chê bai món ăn này. (Please don't disparage this dish.)
  • Anh ấy luôn chê bai ý tưởng của đồng nghiệp. (He always criticizes his colleagues' ideas.)

Advanced Usage

• "bị chê bai": to be disparaged, to be scorned.

  • Tác phẩm của cô ấy thường bị chê bai là quá cầu kỳ. (Her work is often disparaged as being too elaborate.)

• "thói quen chê bai": the habit of criticizing.

  • Thói quen chê bai người khác không giúp cải thiện bản thân. (The habit of criticizing others does not help improve oneself.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chê (v): to reject, to refuse (something) because it is not satisfactory; a simpler, more general term for expressing dislike or disapproval.

  • Cô ấy chê chiếc áo này màu không đẹp. (She rejected this shirt, saying the color isn't nice.)

• Chỉ trích (v): to criticize. This can be more neutral or formal than "chê bai," which carries a stronger connotation of scorn.

  • Bài báo chỉ trích chính sách mới. (The article criticized the new policy.)

Synonyms

• Disparage: To regard or represent as being of little worth.
• Denigrate: To criticize unfairly; to belittle.
• Vilify: To speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner.
• Find fault with: To identify and complain about flaws.

Related Idioms

• Chê bai hết lời: to criticize relentlessly; to disparage thoroughly.

  • Họ chê bai hết lời bộ phim mới. (They criticized the new movie relentlessly.)

• Đừng ăn thì chớ, xin đừng chê bai: A proverb meaning "If you don't like it, don't partake, but please don't disparage it." It advises against criticizing something you are not involved with or do not understand fully.

  • Như câu ca dao: "Canh cải mà nấu với gừng, Chẳng ăn thì chớ xin đừng chê bai." (As the folk poem goes: "If you don't like cabbage soup seasoned with ginger, Don't eat it please and don't disparage it.")

verb

1. To speak scornfully of, to disparage
   • dư luận chê bai anh ta đối xử với vợ không tốt
     public opinion speaks scornfully of him because of his bad treatment of his wife
   • Canh cải mà nấu với gừng Chẳng ăn thì chớ xin đừng chê bai
     If you don't like cabbage soup seasoned with ginger, Don't eat it please and don't disparage it