khinh khỉnh
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Disdainful, supercilious: Describes a facial expression or attitude that shows one feels superior to others and looks down on them with contempt or scorn.
- Coldly aloof, dismissive: Refers to a manner that is intentionally distant, unresponsive, or curt, indicating a lack of regard or respect for the other person.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cô ấy nhìn tôi với vẻ mặt khinh khỉnh. (She looked at me with a disdainful expression.)
- Anh ta trả lời một cách khinh khỉnh rồi bỏ đi. (He answered in a supercilious manner and then walked away.)
- Thái độ khinh khỉnh của người bán hàng khiến khách rất khó chịu. (The shop assistant's dismissive attitude made the customer very uncomfortable.)
Advanced Usage
- "Khinh khỉnh" is often used to describe a specific, visible demeanor—a look, a tone of voice, or a way of responding—that conveys haughty contempt. It implies a deliberate act of showing disrespect.
- Đừng có cái kiểu khinh khỉnh ấy với tôi! (Don't give me that disdainful look/attitude!)
Variants and Related Words
- Khinh (verb): To despise, to look down upon. This is the root verb conveying the core meaning of contempt.
- Hắn khinh những người nghèo. (He despises poor people.)
- Khinh mạn (adjective): Arrogant and disrespectful. A stronger, more formal synonym.
- thái độ khinh mạn (an arrogant and disrespectful attitude)
- Kiêu kỳ / Kiêu ngạo (adjective): Proud, arrogant. These words focus more on pride itself, while "khinh khỉnh" focuses on the outward expression of that contempt.
Synonyms
- Coi thường: To look down on, to disdain (verb phrase).
- Ngạo mạn: Arrogant, haughty (adjective).
- Lạnh nhạt: Cold, indifferent (adjective). This shares the sense of aloofness but without the strong element of active contempt.
Related Idioms
- Khinh khỉnh như chĩnh mắm thối: (To be as disdainful as a jar of rotten fish sauce). This traditional idiom vividly describes someone with an extremely arrogant and contemptuous attitude, as if they find everything as foul-smelling as rotten fish sauce.
- Cô ta cứ khinh khỉnh như chĩnh mắm thối, chẳng thèm chào ai. (She acts all high and mighty, not bothering to greet anyone.)
- (look) disdainful, (look) supercilious