Definition

1. Verb:
   • To disparage; to speak ill of someone (usually when they are absent): The core meaning of "gièm" is to make negative, often unfair, remarks about someone in their absence, with the intention of damaging their reputation.
   • To vilify; to denigrate: It implies a deliberate effort to make someone seem bad or worthless through malicious speech.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đừng nên gièm pha sau lưng người khác. (You shouldn't backbite others behind their backs.)
  • Cô ấy thường bị đồng nghiệp gièm xiểm vì thành công. (She is often disparaged by colleagues due to her success.)
  • Hành động gièm pha đó là rất hèn hạ. (That act of vilification is very despicable.)

Advanced Usage

• "gièm pha": This is the most common compound, meaning to backbite or denigrate. It emphasizes the act of mixing in criticism or negative talk.
  • Thay vì gièm pha, hãy học tập điểm tốt của họ. (Instead of denigrating, learn from their good points.)
• "gièm xiểm" / "xiểm gièm": These variants also mean to backbite or slander, often with a nuance of cunning or insidious criticism.

Variants and Related Words

• Gièm pha (v): to backbite, to denigrate.
• Gièm xiểm / Xiểm gièm (v): to slander, to backbite maliciously.
• Nói xấu (v): to speak ill of (a more general synonym).

Synonyms

• To backbite: To speak maliciously about someone who is not present.
• To disparage: To regard or represent as being of little worth.
• To denigrate: To criticize unfairly; to defame.
• To vilify: To speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner.

Related Idioms

• Gièm nên xấu, khen nên tốt: (Proverb) Literally "Disparaging makes (one) bad, praising makes (one) good." It highlights the power of gossip and public opinion to shape a person's reputation, for better or worse.

verb

1. to disparage; to vilify
   • gièm pha
     to backbite; to denigrate