Definition

1. Verb:
   • To grumble, to complain in a low, continuous, and irritable manner: "cằn nhằn" describes the action of muttering or complaining persistently, often under one's breath, due to annoyance, dissatisfaction, or frustration.
   • To nag, to find fault repeatedly: It can also imply the act of criticizing or scolding someone in a peevish, persistent way.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy thường cằn nhằn về thời tiết nóng bức. (He often grumbles about the hot weather.)
  • Đừng cằn nhằn với tôi về chuyện nhỏ đó nữa. (Stop nagging me about that trivial matter.)
  • Cô ấy cằn nhằn vì bị đánh thức quá sớm. (She grumbled because she was woken up too early.)

Advanced Usage

• "cằn nhằn, càu nhàu": This is a common reduplicative phrase that intensifies the meaning, emphasizing a more irritable and sulky manner of complaining.
  • Ông cụ ngồi một mình cằn nhằn, càu nhàu. (The old man sat alone, grumbling and grousing.)

Variants and Related Words

• Càu nhàu (verb): To grouse, to grumble sullenly. This is a close synonym often used interchangeably or together with "cằn nhằn".
• Lẩm bẩm (verb): To mumble, to mutter. This focuses more on the low volume of speech, which can be part of "cằn nhằn".
• Phàn nàn (verb): To complain. This is a more general term for expressing dissatisfaction, while "cằn nhằn" implies a more irritable and persistent tone.

Synonyms

• Grumble: to complain in a bad-tempered way.
• Nag: to annoy or irritate with persistent fault-finding or demands.
• Grouse: to complain pettily; grumble.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Cằn nhằn với ai: to grumble/nag at someone.
  • Anh ta không nên cằn nhằn với đồng nghiệp. (He shouldn't grumble at his colleagues.)
• Cằn nhằn về việc gì: to grumble about something.
  • Họ suốt ngày cằn nhằn về giá cả. (They grumble about prices all day.)

Related Idioms

• Cằn nhằn như mắc phải tật: (To grumble as if having a habit) - Used to describe someone who grumbles constantly, as if it were a chronic habit.
  • Bà ấy cằn nhằn như mắc phải tật, chẳng việc gì làm bà hài lòng. (She grumbles habitually, nothing ever satisfies her.)

verb

1. To grumble, to grunt
   • cằn nhằn vì bị mất giấc ngủ
     to grumble because one's sleep was interrupted
   • bực mình, nó cằn nhằn anh ta suốt dọc đường
     cross, he grumbled against him all along the way