khó nhai
Definition
- Adjective (figurative, informal):
- Difficult to digest / hard to swallow: Describes information, news, or a situation that is very difficult to accept, believe, or come to terms with due to its unpleasant, shocking, or complex nature.
- Tough to handle / a hard pill to swallow: Refers to a task, problem, or concept that is exceptionally challenging to deal with or understand.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Lời thú nhận của anh ta thật khó nhai. (His confession was very hard to swallow.)
- Đó là một sự thật khó nhai đối với cả gia đình. (That is a truth difficult to digest for the whole family.)
- Bài giảng về lượng tử này quá khó nhai. (This quantum mechanics lecture is too tough to chew on.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is almost exclusively used in its figurative sense. Literally describing food as "khó nhai" (hard to chew) is grammatically possible but uncommon; phrases like "cứng" (hard/tough) or "dai" (chewy) are typically used instead for food.
Variants and Related Words
- Khó nuốt (adj, informal): Literally "hard to swallow." A direct synonym often used interchangeably with "khó nhai" in figurative contexts.
- Lời từ chối ấy thật khó nuốt. (That rejection was hard to swallow.)
Synonyms
- Hard to accept: Difficult to agree with or acknowledge.
- Unpalatable: Not pleasant or acceptable to the mind.
- Bitter pill: An unpleasant fact or situation that must be accepted.
Related Idioms
- Nhai không kỹ: Literally "to chew without care." Figuratively means to speak without thinking or to make a hasty, ill-considered decision.
- Anh ta nhai không kỹ trước khi ký hợp đồng. (He didn't chew it over before signing the contract.)