Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Unpleasant to hear, jarring to the ear: Describes a sound, statement, or remark that is grating, offensive, or disagreeable to listen to.
   • Unacceptable, offensive (to one's sensibilities): Describes something (often an idea or statement) that is shocking, improper, or goes against accepted norms, making it difficult to accept.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tiếng cào móng tay trên bảng đen thật nghịch nhĩ. (The sound of nails scratching a blackboard is truly unpleasant to the ears.)
  • Những lời phê bình thiếu xây dựng của anh ấy nghe thật nghịch nhĩ. (His unconstructive criticism sounds very jarring.)
  • Đề xuất đó hoàn toàn nghịch nhĩ với truyền thống của chúng ta. (That proposal is completely unacceptable to our tradition.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used in formal or literary contexts to describe ideas or speech that are morally or socially offensive, not just physically unpleasant sounds.
  • Hành động phản bội ấy là một sự nghịch nhĩ đối với lòng trung thành. (That act of betrayal is an offense to loyalty.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nghịch tai: A direct synonym, interchangeable in most contexts. Also means "unpleasant to the ears."
  • Lời nói thô tục nghe thật nghịch tai. (Vulgar language sounds very offensive to the ear.)

Synonyms

• Khó nghe: Hard to hear, unpleasant to listen to (can refer to volume or content).
• Chói tai: Piercing, shrill (usually for physically painful sounds).
• Phản cảm: Offensive, causing a negative reaction (often visual or moral).

Related Idioms

• Nghịch nhĩ nghịch mắt: (Unpleasant to the ears and eyes) Used to describe something that is offensive both audibly and visually, thoroughly disagreeable.
  • Cảnh tượng hỗn độn và ồn ào ấy thật nghịch nhĩ nghịch mắt. (That chaotic and noisy scene is truly offensive to both the ears and eyes.)

1. cũng như nghịch tai Unpleasant to the ears, Unacceptable
   • Câu nói nghịch nhĩ
     An unacceptable statement