Definition

1. Noun:
   • A shrew; a termagant; a harridan: A woman who is perceived as constantly scolding, nagging, or being aggressively ill-tempered and quarrelsome.
   • A scold: A person, typically a woman, who habitually criticizes and reprimands others in an angry, harsh manner.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Bà hàng xóm đó đúng là một con la sát. (That neighbor is a real shrew.)
  • Anh ta sợ vợ như sợ một bà la sát. (He fears his wife as if she were a termagant.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a derogatory and gendered way to describe a woman with a sharp tongue and a domineering, unpleasant personality. It carries a strong negative connotation.

Variants and Related Words

• Bà la sát (n): A more emphatic or formal variant with the same meaning, often implying a more fearsome or monstrous figure.
  • Trong câu chuyện, mụ phù thủy được miêu tả như một bà la sát. (In the story, the witch is described as a harpy.)

Synonyms

• Shrew: A bad-tempered or aggressively assertive woman.
• Termagant: A harsh-tempered or overbearing woman.
• Harpy: A predatory, scolding, or nagging woman.
• Virago: A domineering, violent, or bad-tempered woman.

Related Idioms

• While "la sát" itself is often used as a standalone noun in idioms, a related concept is:
  • Miệng như đàn la sát: (Mouth like a pack of shrews) To have a very sharp, scolding, or nagging way of speaking.

    • Đừng có nói nữa, miệng cô như đàn la sát vậy. (Stop talking, your mouth is like a pack of shrews.)

1. Scold, termagant, shrew