Definition

Verb: - To argue / to bicker / to squabble: To engage in a verbal dispute or petty quarrel, often characterized by repeated, heated, and sometimes trivial disagreements. This term describes the general act of arguing, not necessarily a single, specific dispute.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Họ thường xuyên cãi cọ về những chuyện nhỏ nhặt. (They often argue about trivial matters.)
  • Anh ấy không thích cãi cọ với đồng nghiệp. (He doesn't like to bicker with colleagues.)
  • Hai đứa trẻ ngừng cãi cọ khi mẹ chúng bước vào. (The two children stopped squabbling when their mother entered.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "cãi cọ" often implies a back-and-forth, somewhat contentious exchange that may lack serious gravity. It can describe both ongoing patterns of disagreement and individual instances of quarreling.

Variants and Related Words

• Cãi nhau (v): To have an argument/fight. This is a more direct and common synonym.
  • Họ cãi nhau to tiếng. (They had a loud argument.)
• Tranh cãi (v): To debate, to dispute (often on a more substantive issue).
  • Các học giả tranh cãi về giả thuyết mới. (Scholars are debating the new hypothesis.)

Synonyms

• To argue: To exchange opposing views heatedly.
• To bicker: To argue about petty, trivial matters.
• To squabble: To engage in a noisy, petty quarrel.

Related Idioms

• Cãi cọ như mổ bò: To argue fiercely and noisily (literally: to argue like butchering a cow).
  • Họ ngồi cãi cọ như mổ bò cả tiếng đồng hồ. (They sat and argued fiercely for a whole hour.)

verb

1. To have an argument with (nói khái quát)
   • không bao giờ cãi cọ với ai
     Never to have an argument with anyone