mỉa mai
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Ironical, sarcastic: Expressing the opposite of the literal meaning of the words, often to mock, criticize, or convey contempt.
- Bitterly incongruous, sadly contradictory: Describing a situation or outcome that is cruelly or sadly opposite to what is expected or considered appropriate.
Verb (to act/speak mỉa mai):
- To speak ironically/sarcastically: To say something by expressing the opposite of its literal meaning, often with a mocking or scornful intent.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Anh ấy nói với giọng điệu mỉa mai. (He spoke in an ironical/sarcastic tone.)
- Đó là một sự thật mỉa mai của số phận. (That is a bitterly ironic truth of fate.)
- Nụ cười mỉa mai của cô ấy khiến mọi người khó chịu. (Her mocking/ironic smile made people uncomfortable.)
Verb:
- Đừng mỉa mai người khác như thế. (Don't speak sarcastically to others like that.)
- Anh ta thích mỉa mai những kẻ tự phụ. (He likes to mock/ridicule the arrogant ones.)
Advanced Usage
"Đầy vẻ mỉa mai": full of irony/sarcasm.
- Câu trả lời của cô ấy đầy vẻ mỉa mai. (Her answer was full of sarcasm.)
"Sự mỉa mai" (noun): irony, sarcasm.
- Sự mỉa mai của hoàn cảnh thật khó chấp nhận. (The irony of the situation is hard to accept.)
Variants and Related Words
- Châm biếm (verb/adjective): to satirize; satirical. (Often more literary or formal than , focusing on criticism through wit.)
- Chế nhạo (verb): to mock, to ridicule. (Focuses more on scornful laughter rather than verbal irony.)
- Giễu cợt (verb): to deride, to scoff at. (Similar to mocking, often contemptuous.)
Synonyms
- Ironical (adj): having the quality of irony.
- Sarcastic (adj): using irony to mock or convey contempt.
- Mocking (adj): scornful, ridiculing.
- Cynical (adj): distrustful of human sincerity; can overlap in expressing scornful doubt.
Related Phrases/Idioms
Mỉa mai một cách tàn nhẫn: to be cruelly ironic.
- Số phận mỉa mai một cách tàn nhẫn. (Fate is cruelly ironic.)
Lời nói mỉa mai: sarcastic/ironic remark.
- Anh ta không thể chịu nổi những lời nói mỉa mai đó. (He couldn't stand those sarcastic remarks.)