ngổ nghịch
Definition
- Adjective:
- Wayward and insolent; mischievous and disobedient: Describes a person, typically a child or young person, who is naughty, unruly, and shows a lack of respect or obedience, often in a playful but troublesome manner.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Đứa trẻ đó rất ngổ nghịch, không chịu nghe lời ai. (That child is very wayward and insolent; he doesn't listen to anyone.)
- Bọn trẻ trông có vẻ ngổ nghịch, nhưng thực ra chúng rất ngoan. (The children look mischievous and unruly, but they are actually very well-behaved.)
- Cậu học sinh ngổ nghịch ấy cuối cùng cũng bị giáo viên phạt. (That insolent student was finally punished by the teacher.)
Advanced Usage
- "tính ngổ nghịch": (a) mischievous/insolent nature.
- Tính ngổ nghịch của nó khiến bố mẹ rất lo lắng. (His mischievous nature worries his parents greatly.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nghịch ngợm (adj): Mischievous, playful. This word is very close in meaning but often carries a slightly lighter, more playful connotation than "ngổ nghịch," which implies more disobedience.
- Bướng bỉnh (adj): Stubborn, obstinate. Focuses on stubbornness rather than playful insolence.
- Ngỗ ngược (adj): Recalcitrant, defiant. Stronger and more serious than "ngổ nghịch," indicating open rebellion or defiance.
Synonyms
- Quậy phá: To act up, to cause trouble.
- Không nghe lời: Disobedient.
Related Idioms
- (Có tính) đầu gấu đầu sư tử: (To have the nature of) a ringleader/bully. This idiom describes someone who leads others in mischief or trouble, which can be related to being "ngổ nghịch."
- Thằng bé có tính đầu gấu đầu sư tử, lúc nào cũng rủ bạn bè nghịch dại. (That boy is a ringleader, always inviting his friends to do foolish mischief.)
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Wayward and insolent
