chơi ác
Definition
- Verb:
- To play a nasty trick: To engage in a joke or prank that is intentionally cruel, harmful, or causes significant distress or damage to another person. It implies malicious intent within the context of play or teasing.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Nó chơi ác bằng cách bỏ một cục nước đá vào cổ bạn. (He played a nasty trick by putting an ice cube down his friend's shirt.)
- Đừng chơi ác như thế, nó có thể bị thương. (Don't play such a nasty trick; he could get hurt.)
- Họ chơi ác khi giấu chiếc cặp của tôi. (They played a nasty trick by hiding my bag.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often describes actions that blur the line between a joke and genuine malice, where the "play" results in physical discomfort, emotional upset, or material loss. It criticizes the perpetrator's lack of empathy.
Variants and Related Words
- Chơi xấu (v): To play dirty; to act in an underhanded or unfair manner, often in competition or conflict. While similar, "chơi xấu" can be broader than a trick and is not always framed as "play."
- Trêu ác (v): To tease cruelly; to mock or provoke someone in a hurtful way.
Synonyms
- To play a dirty trick: To act deceitfully or unfairly to gain an advantage or cause harm.
- To pull a mean prank: To execute a practical joke that is intended to be hurtful.
Related Idioms
- Chơi đểu: (colloquial, stronger) To act in a profoundly deceitful, low, or contemptible manner. This is more severe and general than "chơi ác," implying deep dishonesty rather than just a cruel trick.
verb
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To play a nasty trick
