cãi lí
Definition
- Verb:
- To argue sophistically; to quibble; to argue for the sake of arguing: The act of engaging in an argument not to seek truth or a solution, but to insist on one's own point of view, often using clever but flawed or irrelevant reasoning. It implies a stubborn, unreasonable, or nitpicking attitude in a debate.
- To be argumentative; to dispute unreasonably: To habitually or unnecessarily contradict others, focusing on minor details or semantics rather than the main issue.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ấy không chịu lắng nghe, chỉ thích cãi lí thôi. (He doesn't want to listen; he just likes to argue for the sake of arguing.)
- Đừng cãi lí với tôi nữa, hãy làm theo những gì đã được thống nhất. (Stop quibbling with me; just follow what was agreed upon.)
- Cô ấy cãi lí rất giỏi, nhưng lập luận thì thiếu căn cứ. (She is very good at sophistical arguing, but her arguments lack evidence.)
Advanced Usage
"cãi lí cùn" / "cãi lí bướng bỉnh": To argue stubbornly and obstinately.
- Một khi đã cãi lí cùn thì không ai có thể thuyết phục được anh ta. (Once he starts arguing stubbornly, no one can persuade him.)
Often carries a negative connotation, criticizing the act as unproductive, annoying, or disrespectful, especially towards elders or superiors.
- Con không được cãi lí với người lớn! (You must not talk back to adults!)
Variants and Related Words
- Cãi (verb): To argue, to dispute. A more general term for arguing.
- Cãi nhau (verb phrase): To have an argument, to quarrel. Often implies a mutual, heated exchange.
- Lí sự (verb): Similar to "cãi lí," meaning to argue sophistically or to give impertinent reasons. Can be used interchangeably in many contexts.
- Tranh cãi (verb): To debate, to contend. Can be more neutral, referring to a debate or controversy.
Synonyms
- Quibble: To argue or raise objections about a trivial matter.
- Split hairs: To make small and unnecessary distinctions.
- Talk back: To answer in a disrespectful or argumentative way (especially to authority).
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
Note: As "cãi lí" is a compound verb in Vietnamese, it does not have direct phrasal verb equivalents in English. The concept is expressed through synonyms or descriptive phrases.
Related Idioms
- "Cãi như chày cối": To argue relentlessly and noisily (like a pestle and mortar).
- Hai anh em cãi nhau như chày cối cả buổi tối. (The two brothers argued noisily and relentlessly all evening.) [This idiom uses the more general "cãi nhau," but illustrates the intensity often associated with "cãi lí."]