Definition

1. Verb:
   • To have the gift of the gab; to be a smooth talker: To speak in a very fluent, persuasive, and often glib or overly confident manner, sometimes with the implication of being insincere or boastful.
   • To talk glibly; to be a slick talker: To speak easily and volubly, often with the aim of persuading, impressing, or deceiving others.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy nói bẻm lắm, đừng có tin hết. (He has the gift of the gab, don't believe everything he says.)
  • Cô bán hàng nói bẻm đến nỗi tôi mua cả đống đồ không cần thiết. (The saleswoman talked so glibly that I bought a bunch of unnecessary stuff.)
  • Đừng nói bẻm nữa, hãy chứng minh bằng hành động đi. (Stop being such a smooth talker; prove it with actions.)

Advanced Usage

• "giỏi nói bẻm": to be exceptionally glib; to be a real smooth talker.
  • Hắn ta giỏi nói bẻm nên dễ dàng thuyết phục được mọi người. (He is a real smooth talker, so he easily persuades people.)
• "tài nói bẻm": the talent/skill of glib talking.
  • Nhờ tài nói bẻm mà anh ta thành công trong nghề bán hàng. (Thanks to his gift of the gab, he succeeded in sales.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bẻm mép (adj, v): A more colloquial and sometimes stronger variant meaning "glib-mouthed" or "to talk glibly." It emphasizes the action of using one's lips/mouth.
  • Thằng đó bẻm mép lắm. (That guy is all talk / is very glib.)
• Nói khéo (v): To speak tactfully or diplomatically. This is generally more positive than "nói bẻm," which often has a negative connotation.
• Nói ngon nói ngọt (idiom): To use sweet, flattering words to persuade (often with ulterior motives). Shares a similar insincere connotation with "nói bẻm."

Synonyms

• Nói láo (v): To lie, to talk nonsense. This is stronger and more directly negative than "nói bẻm," which focuses on the manner of speaking rather than necessarily the truthfulness.
• Khoác lác (v): To boast, to brag. Shares the element of speaking to impress, but "nói bẻm" emphasizes fluent persuasion, while "khoác lác" focuses on exaggeration.
• Tán phét (v): To chat idly or boastfully; to shoot the breeze. Can overlap with "nói bẻm" in casual contexts.

Related Idioms

• "Mồm miệng đỡ chân tay": Literally "mouth and lips substitute for hands and feet." An idiom describing someone who relies on smooth talking instead of hard work, closely related to the concept of "nói bẻm."
  • Hắn chẳng làm được tích sự gì, chỉ mồm miệng đỡ chân tay thôi. (He doesn't accomplish anything, he just talks a good game.)
• "Nói như rót vào tai": To speak so sweetly and persuasively it's like pouring (honey) into someone's ear. Describes a very effective and pleasing way of talking, which a person who "nói bẻm" might employ.
  • Cô ấy nói như rót vào tai, ai nghe cũng mê. (She speaks so sweetly, anyone who listens is captivated.)

1. Have the gift of the gab