Definition

1. Verb:
   • To speak by innuendo; to make oblique hints: "nói cạnh" refers to the act of speaking indirectly, using allusions or veiled remarks to imply something negative or critical, often to provoke annoyance or shame in the listener.
   • To speak with insinuation: It describes a manner of speaking that suggests something unpleasant without stating it directly.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy không bao giờ phê bình trực tiếp, mà chỉ thích nói cạnh. (He never criticizes directly; he only likes to speak by innuendo.)
  • Đừng có nói cạnh nữa, có gì thì nói thẳng ra đi! (Stop making oblique hints; if you have something to say, say it directly!)
  • Cô ấy nói cạnh về chuyện đi làm muộn khiến tôi rất khó chịu. (Her insinuating remarks about being late for work made me very uncomfortable.)

Advanced Usage

• "nói cạnh nói khoé": This is a common, intensified variant of "nói cạnh". It emphasizes a more pointed, sharper, or more sarcastic form of indirect, hinting speech.
  • Mấy người đó suốt ngày nói cạnh nói khoé, chẳng ai hiểu họ thực sự muốn gì. (Those people are always speaking in hints and insinuations all day; no one understands what they really want.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nói bóng gió (verb): To speak in hints; to make veiled references. This is a close synonym, though "nói bóng gió" can sometimes be less aggressive than "nói cạnh".
  • Anh ta thường nói bóng gió về những vấn đề trong công ty. (He often speaks in hints about the problems in the company.)
• Nói mát (verb): To make a sarcastic or snide remark. This is related but focuses more on the sarcastic tone.
• Ám chỉ (verb): To allude to; to imply. This is the direct act of making an allusion.

Synonyms

• Speak indirectly: Nói gián tiếp.
• Hint obliquely: Gợi ý một cách gián tiếp.
• Insinuate: Ám chỉ, nói bóng gió (with a slightly more negative connotation of suggesting something bad).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: As "nói cạnh" is a Vietnamese verb phrase, it does not have direct English phrasal verb equivalents. The concept is best translated by the verbs and phrases listed above.)

Related Idioms

• Nói gần nói xa: To speak in a roundabout way; to beat around the bush. This idiom shares the theme of indirect speech but is less focused on provoking shame or annoyance than "nói cạnh".
  • Anh đừng nói gần nói xa nữa, cứ đi thẳng vào vấn đề đi. (Stop beating around the bush; get straight to the point.)

1. Speak by innuendoes; make oblique hints
   • Nói cạnh nói khóe như nói cạnh