Definition

1. Verb:
   • To express cynicism, scorn, or contempt through a short, sharp sound or utterance: "khẩy" describes the act of making a brief, often derisive sound (like a short laugh or scoff) to convey disbelief, mockery, or disdain.
   • To speak in a sarcastic or scornful tone: "khẩy" can also refer to uttering words with a sneering, cynical attitude.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ta chỉ cười khẩy một tiếng rồi bỏ đi. (He just gave a scornful laugh and walked away.)
  • "Thật sao?" - cô ấy nói khẩy, giọng đầy hoài nghi. ("Really?" - she said scornfully, her voice full of doubt.)

Advanced Usage

• "cười khẩy": to laugh scornfully/snigger; to emit a short, cynical laugh expressing contempt or disbelief.
  • Nghe xong câu chuyện, ông chủ chỉ cười khẩy. (After hearing the story, the boss just gave a scornful laugh.)
• "nói khẩy": to speak scornfully/sarcastically; to say something in a sneering, cynical tone.
  • Đừng nói khẩy như thế, nó không hay chút nào. (Don't speak so scornfully, it's not nice at all.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khinh khỉnh (adj): disdainful, contemptuous (often describing a facial expression or attitude).
  • Cô ấy nhìn anh ta với vẻ mặt khinh khỉnh. (She looked at him with a disdainful expression.)

Synonyms

• Chê bai: to criticize, to disparage (focuses more on verbal criticism).
• Giễu cợt: to mock, to ridicule (focuses more on making fun of someone).
• Coi thường: to look down on, to despise (focuses more on the feeling of contempt).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs in the same way as English verbs. Its usage is primarily in the fixed phrases "cười khẩy" and "nói khẩy".)

Related Idioms

• Mỉa mai chua chát: to be bitterly sarcastic/ironic. This idiom describes a similar tone of scornful, biting speech but is more elaborate.
  • Anh ấy trả lời bằng một giọng mỉa mai chua chát. (He replied in a bitterly sarcastic tone.)

1. In cynical manner
   • Cười khẩy
     To laugh in a cynical manner, to snigger