Definition

1. Noun:

   • Monkey: A mammal belonging to the primate order, typically having a tail, living in trees, and known for its agility and intelligence.
   • (Slang, derogatory) A contemptible or foolish person: Used to insult someone considered annoying, mischievous, or stupid.

2. Adjective (informal):

   • Bad, lousy, worthless: Describes something of very poor quality or a situation that is not good or significant.

3. Interjection:

   • An exclamation of annoyance or frustration: A swear word used to express anger, irritation, or disappointment.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Animal):

  • Trong rừng có rất nhiều khỉ. (There are many monkeys in the forest.)
  • Khỉ là loài động vật thông minh. (Monkeys are intelligent animals.)

• Noun (Slang, person):

  • Đồ khỉ! Mày lại làm hỏng việc rồi! (You monkey! You messed it up again!)

• Adjective:

  • Việc ấy có ra khỉ gì đâu. (That matter is worthless/leads to nothing.)
  • Bộ phim này quá khỉ! (This movie is so lousy!)

• Interjection:

  • Khỉ! Tôi lại quên chìa khóa. (Damn! I forgot my keys again.)
  • Khỉ thật! Làm mất thì giờ của người ta. (Oh, monkey! Wasting my time.)

Advanced Usage

• "Đồ khỉ": A common insult meaning "You monkey!" or "You rascal!".

  • Đồ khỉ, đừng có nghịch nữa! (You rascal, stop messing around!)

• "Chuyện khỉ gì" / "Cái khỉ gì": Used to express that something is nonsense, insignificant, or ridiculous.

  • Anh ta nói cái khỉ gì vậy? (What kind of nonsense is he talking about?)

• "Mặt khỉ": Literally "monkey face"; used as an insult for someone with an ugly or funny-looking face.

  • Nhìn mặt khỉ của nó kìa! (Look at his monkey face!)

Variants and Related Words

• Khỉ đột (noun): Gorilla.

  • Khỉ đột là loài linh trưởng lớn nhất. (The gorilla is the largest primate.)

• Khỉ gió (noun, slang): A silly, foolish, or crazy person.

  • Nó là thằng khỉ gió, đừng tin nó. (He's a crazy guy, don't believe him.)

• Chuồng khỉ (noun): Monkey house/cage.

  • Bọn trẻ thích xem khỉ trong chuồng khỉ. (The children like to watch the monkeys in the monkey house.)

Synonyms

• Con khỉ (noun): The monkey (more specific).
• Đười ươi (noun): Orangutan (a specific type of great ape).
• Vượn (noun): Gibbon (a smaller ape).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: "Khỉ" is a noun/adjective/interjection, not a verb, so it does not form phrasal verbs. The related constructions are fixed phrases or idioms.)

Related Idioms

• Khỉ ho cò gáy: A very remote, desolate place (literally "where monkeys cough and herons cry").

  • Nhà nó ở tận nơi khỉ ho cò gáy. (His house is in the middle of nowhere.)

• Rừng nào cọp (hổ) ấy / Khỉ nào rừng nấy: Literally "Which forest, that tiger / Which monkey, that forest"; meaning like attracts like, or people belong to their own environment/group.

  • Chúng nó kết bạn với nhau đúng là khỉ nào rừng nấy. (They became friends, truly birds of a feather flock together.)

• Làm trò khỉ / Làm trò hề: To act like a clown/monkey; to behave foolishly for amusement or to mock.

  • Đừng có làm trò khỉ trước mặt khách. (Don't act like a clown in front of the guests.)

noun

1. monkey
   • chuồng khỉ
     monkey-house