Definition

1. Verb:
   • To slander / to speak ill of: The primary meaning of "kẻ vạch" is to maliciously point out or expose someone's faults or secrets with the intent to defame or harm their reputation. It implies a deliberate and often unfair act of speaking negatively about someone.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Hắn ta thích kẻ vạch người khác sau lưng. (He likes to slander others behind their backs.)
  • Đừng kẻ vạch nhau, hãy nói chuyện trực tiếp. (Don't speak ill of each other; talk directly.)
  • Việc kẻ vạch đồng nghiệp là không thể chấp nhận được ở nơi làm việc. (Slandering colleagues is unacceptable in the workplace.)

Advanced Usage

• The action of "kẻ vạch" often carries a strong negative connotation of betrayal, pettiness, or spreading gossip. It is not merely criticizing but doing so in a way that is considered underhanded or destructive to social harmony.

Variants and Related Words

• Nói xấu (v): to speak badly of, to badmouth. This is a more common and general synonym.
  • Cô ấy không bao giờ nói xấu ai. (She never speaks ill of anyone.)

Synonyms

• Defame: to damage the good reputation of someone.
• Malign: to speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner.
• Backbite: to say mean or spiteful things about a person who is not present.

Related Idioms

• While "kẻ vạch" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, the concept is related to behaviors described in phrases like:
  • Đâm bị thóc, chọc bị gạo: to stir up trouble, to cause conflict (often by gossiping or pointing out faults).

    • Người đó chuyên đâm bị thóc, chọc bị gạo trong xóm. (That person specializes in stirring up trouble in the neighborhood.)