chơi khăm
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To play a prank / to pull a prank: The primary meaning of "chơi khăm" is to trick someone in a mischievous or playful, but often slightly mean-spirited, way for amusement. The prank is typically intended to embarrass, surprise, or cause minor inconvenience to the target.
- To play a dirty trick / to play a mean trick: This meaning emphasizes the trick's deceptive and unkind nature, where the humor is at the expense of the victim.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Nó thích chơi khăm bạn bè. (He likes to play pranks on his friends.)
- Đừng chơi khăm tôi như thế nữa! (Don't pull a dirty trick on me like that again!)
- Họ bị chơi khăm và bị nhốt ngoài cửa. (They were pranked and locked outside.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often implies a sense of cunning and premeditation. The trick is usually set up secretly, and the victim is unaware until the moment it happens.
- It can describe both simple, harmless jokes among friends and more elaborate, potentially upsetting tricks.
Variants and Related Words
Trò đùa (n): a joke, a jest. This is a more general term for a joke, which may or may not involve trickery.
- Anh ấy kể một trò đùa vui. (He told a funny joke.)
Trêu chọc (v): to tease, to poke fun at. This involves provoking or mocking someone, but not necessarily through an elaborate trick.
- Các anh trai thường trêu chọc em gái. (Older brothers often tease their younger sister.)
Synonyms
- To prank: to play a trick on someone.
- To trick: to deceive someone, often playfully.
- To hoax: to deceive with an elaborate fabrication (can be more serious).
Related Idioms
- While "chơi khăm" is itself a common phrase, it is often associated with the concept of "trò chơi khăm" (a prank, a practical joke).
- Trò chơi khăm đó thật tinh quái. (That prank was really mischievous.)