mắng chửi

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To scold and curse / to berate and insult: To speak to someone angrily and abusively, using harsh, offensive, or profane language. It implies a severe verbal attack that combines reprimand with insults.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Bà chủ mắng chửi nhân viên vì một lỗi nhỏ. (The boss berated and cursed the employee for a minor mistake.)
  • Anh ta tức giận và bắt đầu mắng chửi mọi người xung quanh. (He got angry and started scolding and cursing everyone around him.)
  • Không nên mắng chửi trẻ con trước mặt đám đông. (You shouldn't scold and insult children in public.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "mắng chửi" is stronger than just "mắng" (to scold). It specifically conveys a torrent of abusive speech where scolding is mixed with curses or vulgarities, often in a loud and uncontrolled manner.

Variants and Related Words

• Mắng (v): to scold, to reprimand.

  • Cô giáo mắng học sinh không làm bài tập. (The teacher scolded the student for not doing homework.)

• Chửi (v): to curse, to swear, to insult verbally.

  • Ông ấy chửi bới khi xe bị hỏng. (He cursed when the car broke down.)

• Chửi bới (v): to curse and swear; similar in intensity to "mắng chửi" but may focus more on the insulting aspect.

  • Hai người hàng xóm lớn tiếng chửi bới nhau. (The two neighbors loudly cursed at each other.)

Synonyms

• To berate: To scold or criticize angrily.
• To revile: To criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner.
• To vilify: To speak or write about in a very abusive manner.

Related Idioms

• Mắng chửi thậm tệ / Mắng chửi như tát nước vào mặt: To scold and curse terribly / to scold and curse as if throwing water in someone's face. This emphasizes the relentless, overwhelming, and humiliating nature of the verbal abuse.
  • Sau sự cố, ông ấy mắng chửi nhân viên thậm tệ. (After the incident, he berated the employee terribly.)