Definition

1. Adjective/Adverb (describing manner):
   • Plaguily; whiningly; in a persistently nagging or pestering manner: Describes the action of repeatedly and annoyingly asking, demanding, or complaining, often in a high-pitched or irritating voice, and refusing to give up easily.
   • Obstinately; with insistence: Performing an action with stubborn persistence, especially when requesting or demanding something.

Usage Examples

• Adjective/Adverb:
  • Mấy đứa trẻ kèo kẹo đòi đi chơi. (Those little children asked plaguily to be taken out for a walk.)
  • Nó kèo kẹo xin mẹ mua đồ chơi mới. (He whiningly begged his mother to buy a new toy.)
  • Đừng có kèo kẹo ở đây! (Stop pestering/whining here!)

Advanced Usage

• The word "kèo kẹo" is primarily used in spoken, informal Vietnamese. It vividly depicts a tone and behavior that is both persistent and irritating, often associated with children but can apply to adults behaving childishly.

Variants and Related Words

• Kèo nhèo (adj/adv): A very close synonym, also meaning to nag or whine persistently.
  • Con bé cứ kèo nhèo không ngừng. (The girl kept whining incessantly.)

Synonyms

• Naggingly: To annoy by persistent fault-finding or demands.
• Whiningly: To complain in a feeble, petulant way.
• Pesteringly: To trouble or annoy with frequent or persistent requests.
• Importunately: To make requests in a pressingly urgent or persistent manner.

Related Idioms

• Ăn vạ kèo kẹo: To throw a tantrum with persistent whining to get one's way.

  • Đứa trẻ ăn vạ kèo kẹo giữa siêu thị. (The child threw a whining tantrum in the supermarket.)

• Vòi vĩnh kèo kẹo: To pester or badger someone insistently for something.

  • Nó vòi vĩnh kèo kẹo tiền bố mẹ. (He pestered his parents for money obstinately.)

1. Plaguy
   • Mấy đứa trẻ kèo kẹo đòi đi chơi
     Those little children asked plaguily to be taken out for a walk