chơi nhau
Definition
- Verb (informal, vulgar):
- To fight, to come to blows: Refers to engaging in a physical fight or conflict with someone.
- To have a go at each other: Can imply a hostile confrontation or a serious quarrel escalating to physical violence.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Hai đứa trẻ đang cãi nhau và sắp chơi nhau. (The two kids are arguing and are about to come to blows.)
- Sau cuộc tranh luận nảy lửa, họ đã chơi nhau ngay tại quán bar. (After the heated argument, they had a go at each other right in the bar.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is considered vulgar and highly informal. It is typically used in casual, colloquial speech, often among peers, and can carry a strong, aggressive connotation. It is not suitable for formal or polite contexts.
Variants and Related Words
- Đánh nhau (verb): To fight, to hit each other. This is a more standard, though still informal, term for physical fighting.
- Xô xát (verb/noun): To scuffle; a scuffle, a physical altercation. Slightly less intense than "chơi nhau."
- Ẩu đả (verb): To brawl, to engage in a rough fight. Similar in intensity but more formal in register than "chơi nhau."
Synonyms
- Gây gổ: To pick a fight, to quarrel.
- Xung đột: To conflict, to clash.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Chơi nhau một trận: To have a real fight, to duke it out.
- Họ quyết định chơi nhau một trận để giải quyết mâu thuẫn. (They decided to duke it out to settle the dispute.)
Related Idioms
- Chơi nhau ra trò: To have a proper, full-on fight (often implying it was serious or intense).
- Lần tranh chấp đó họ chơi nhau ra trò. (That dispute led to them having a proper fight.)