Definition

1. Verb:
   • To ridicule: To mock or make fun of someone or something in a scornful or contemptuous manner, often to expose faults or weaknesses.
   • To tease / to jest: To make playful, light-hearted jokes or remarks, though sometimes with an underlying critical edge.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy thường giễu cợt cách ăn mặc của bạn bè. (He often ridicules his friends' way of dressing.)
  • Đừng giễu cợt người khác khi họ mắc lỗi. (Don't mock others when they make mistakes.)
  • Họ chỉ đang giễu cợt vui vẻ thôi, không có ác ý. (They are just teasing playfully, without malicious intent.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often carries a nuance of satire or sarcasm, used not just for simple joking but for social or moral criticism.
  • Bài báo đó giễu cợt thói tham nhũng của giới quan chức. (That article ridicules the corruption habits of officials.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chế giễu (v): to deride, to sneer. This is a stronger, more formal synonym often used in written language.

  • Bộ phim chế giễu các thói quen của giới thượng lưu. (The film derides the habits of the upper class.)

• Nhạo báng (v): to scorn, to jeer. Implies open and harsh mockery.

  • Đám đông nhạo báng cầu thủ đá hỏng phạt đền. (The crowd jeered at the player who missed the penalty.)

Synonyms

• Ridicule: To subject someone to contemptuous and dismissive mockery.
• Mock: To tease or laugh at in a scornful or contemptuous manner.
• Tease: To make fun of or attempt to provoke in a playful way.
• Jest: To speak or act in a joking manner.

Related Idioms

• While "giễu cợt" itself is commonly used as a standalone verb, it is conceptually related to the idea of "làm trò cười cho thiên hạ" (to become a laughingstock for everyone).
  • Hành động của hắn chỉ khiến hắn thành trò cười cho thiên hạ. (His actions only made him a laughingstock for everyone.)

verb

1. to ridicule, to fool