Definition

1. Verb:
   • To find fault with / to nitpick: To criticize someone or something in a petty, unreasonable, or overly harsh manner, often over minor or insignificant details.
   • To hassle / to give someone a hard time: To deliberately and unnecessarily bother, pressure, or create difficulties for someone.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Sếp luôn hoạnh hoẹ nhân viên về những lỗi nhỏ. (The boss always nitpicks employees about minor mistakes.)
  • Đừng hoạnh hoẹ tôi nữa, tôi đang rất bận. (Stop giving me a hard time, I'm very busy.)
  • Anh ta thích hoạnh hoẹ người khác để cảm thấy mình quan trọng. (He likes to hassle others to feel important.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb often implies an abuse of power or authority, where one person uses their position to unfairly criticize or pressure someone else.
• It carries a negative connotation of being unjust, mean-spirited, or unnecessarily severe.

Variants and Related Words

• Hoạnh (v): A shortened, less common form with the same meaning as "hoạnh hoẹ."
  • Anh ấy hay hoạnh cấp dưới. (He often nitpicks his subordinates.)

Synonyms

• Nitpick: to criticize small, unimportant faults.
• Hassle: to annoy or bother persistently.
• Bully: to use strength or power to intimidate or harm others.
• Harass: to subject someone to aggressive pressure or intimidation.

Related Idioms

• While "hoạnh hoẹ" itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, the action it describes is central to many situations of unfair criticism or petty harassment.