Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To use learned/erudite terms: To employ sophisticated, scholarly, or literary vocabulary in speech, often to sound intelligent or educated.
   • To speak in a highbrow manner: To communicate using overly formal, classical, or specialized language that may not be easily understood by a general audience.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Anh ấy thích nói chữ khi thảo luận triết học. (He likes to use erudite terms when discussing philosophy.)
  • Đừng nói chữ, hãy giải thích bằng ngôn ngữ đơn giản. (Don't use highbrow language; explain it in simple terms.)
  • Bài diễn văn đó đầy những từ Hán-Việt, nghe rất nói chữ. (That speech is full of Sino-Vietnamese words; it sounds very highbrow.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often carries a slightly negative or critical connotation, implying the speaker is being pretentious, unnecessarily complicated, or showing off their knowledge rather than communicating clearly.
• It can describe a style of speech common in certain academic, literary, or formal contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Lên giọng văn (v): To adopt a literary or ornate tone in speech.
  • Anh ấy lên giọng văn khi đọc bài phát biểu. (He adopted a literary tone when reading the speech.)

Synonyms

• To use highfalutin language: To use pompous or pretentious speech.
• To speak pedantically: To speak in a manner overly concerned with formal rules and book learning.
• To be verbose / to use jargon: To use an excess of words or specialized terminology.

Related Idioms

• Nói chữ như giảng văn: To speak in such a highbrow way it's like giving a literature lecture (implying it's overly complex for casual conversation).
  • Cứ nói chuyện đời thường thôi, đừng nói chữ như giảng văn. (Just talk about everyday things; don't speak as if you're giving a literature lecture.)

1. Use highbrow terms (when speaking)