Definition

Verb: - To flatter; to adulate: To praise someone excessively and insincerely, especially to gain favor or advantage from them. It implies a servile, fawning, and often opportunistic behavior toward someone in a position of power or influence.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Hắn ta chỉ biết dua nịnh sếp để được thăng chức. (He only knows how to flatter the boss to get a promotion.)
  • Tôi không thích những kẻ hay dua nịnh người giàu có. (I dislike those who often flatter the wealthy.)
  • Thái độ dua nịnh của anh ấy thật đáng khinh. (His fawning attitude is truly despicable.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "dua nịnh" carries a strong negative connotation, implying not just flattery but also a willingness to conform obsequiously to the wishes of the powerful. It is often used in contexts discussing moral corruption, lack of integrity, or toxic social hierarchies.

Variants and Related Words

• Nịnh hót (v): to flatter, to sweet-talk. Often used interchangeably with dua nịnh, though nịnh hót can sometimes sound slightly less severe.

  • Anh ấy giỏi nịnh hót cấp trên. (He is good at flattering his superiors.)

• Bợ đỡ (v): to toady, to suck up to. Emphasizes servile behavior to curry favor.

  • Hắn chuyên bợ đỡ những người có chức quyền. (He specializes in toadying to people in authority.)

Synonyms

• Flatter: To praise excessively and often insincerely.
• Adulate: To flatter or admire excessively or slavishly.
• Fawn: To flatter or show affection in a servile way.
• Toady: To behave in an obsequious way to gain advantage.

Related Idioms

• Nịnh thần (lit. to flatter the gods): An idiom describing extreme, worshipful flattery toward someone as if they were a deity.

  • Lão ấy nịnh thần ông chủ mới để giữ việc. (That old man flatters the new boss like a god to keep his job.)

• Dựa hơi nịnh hót (lit. to rely on someone's aura and flatter): To cling to someone's influence and flatter them.

  • Hắn chẳng có tài cán gì, chỉ biết dựa hơi nịnh hót mà thôi. (He has no real talent, he only knows how to cling to influence and flatter.)

verb

1. to flatter; to adulate