mẹ ranh
Definition
- Noun:
- A cunning or crafty woman: A woman who is clever in a deceptive, sly, or scheming way, often for her own advantage. The term implies sharp-wittedness used for trickery or manipulation.
- A shrewd woman: A woman who is astute and perceptive, sometimes to the point of being overly clever or underhanded.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Cô ấy đúng là một mẹ ranh, luôn tìm cách lợi dụng người khác. (She is truly a cunning woman, always finding ways to take advantage of others.)
- Đừng tin lời mẹ ranh đó. (Don't trust that crafty woman's words.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is informal and often carries a negative, disapproving connotation. It is used to criticize a woman's character for being sly or deceitful.
Variants and Related Words
- Ranh (adj): Sly, cunning, crafty. This is the adjective form describing the characteristic.
- Đứa trẻ đó có vẻ ranh lắm. (That child seems very crafty.)
Synonyms
- Cunning woman: A woman skilled in deception.
- Sly woman: A woman acting with stealth and deceit.
- Scheming woman: A woman who makes secret plans to achieve her aims, often unfairly.
Related Idioms
- Khôn lỏi: This is a related adjective phrase meaning "street-smart" in a cunning, sharp, and often unscrupulous way. It can describe a person (male or female) with the same qualities as "mẹ ranh."
- Hắn ta khôn lỏi trong chuyện làm ăn. (He is cunning/sharp in business matters.)