Definition

1. Verb:
   • To irritate, to vex: To deliberately provoke or annoy someone, causing them to become angry or upset. This action is often intentional and involves poking at someone's sensitive points or patience.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đừng có khêu gan tôi nữa! (Don't irritate me anymore!)
  • Anh ấy cố tình khêu gan đối thủ bằng những lời lẽ châm chọc. (He deliberately vexed his opponent with sarcastic remarks.)
  • Việc liên tục trễ hẹn của cô ấy thực sự khêu gan mọi người. (Her constant lateness really irritates everyone.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe persistent, nagging annoyance: Often implies a series of actions or a sustained behavior that grates on someone's nerves.
  • Kiểu làm việc cẩu thả của anh ta khêu gan cả phòng. (His sloppy way of working irritates the whole office.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chọc tức (verb): A close synonym meaning to tease or provoke someone to anger. While similar, "chọc tức" can sometimes have a slightly more playful connotation.
• Khiêu khích (verb): To provoke, challenge, or incite. This term is stronger and often used in more serious or confrontational contexts (e.g., political, military).
• Trêu chọc (verb): To tease or joke around. This generally has a lighter, less malicious intent than "khêu gan."

Synonyms

• Kích động: To agitate, to incite.
• Làm bực mình: To annoy, to bother.
• Chọc giận: To provoke to anger.

Related Idioms

• Khêu ngọn lửa giận: Literally "to poke the fire of anger," meaning to stir up or fuel someone's rage.
  • Những bình luận đó chỉ nhằm khêu ngọn lửa giận mà thôi. (Those comments are only meant to fuel the anger.)
• Chọc gậy bánh xe: Literally "to poke a stick into the wheel spokes," meaning to deliberately cause trouble or sabotage.
  • Hắn ta luôn tìm cách chọc gậy bánh xe vào công việc của chúng tôi. (He always finds a way to sabotage our work.)

1. Irritate, vex