Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Unpleasant to the ear, jarring, dissonant: Describes sounds, music, or speech that are harsh, discordant, or grating, causing discomfort or displeasure to the listener.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tiếng cào móng tay trên bảng đen thật nghịch tai. (The sound of fingernails on a chalkboard is truly jarring.)
  • Âm nhạc của ông ấy bị một số người cho là nghịch tai và khó nghe. (His music is considered dissonant and difficult to listen to by some people.)
  • Giọng nói chói tai và nghịch tai của diễn giả khiến khán giả khó chịu. (The speaker's shrill and unpleasant voice made the audience uncomfortable.)

Advanced Usage

• Used primarily in formal or literary contexts to critique music, sounds, or speech.
• Often implies a subjective judgment of auditory aesthetics, contrasting with "thuận tai" (pleasant to the ear).

Variants and Related Words

• Nghịch nhĩ (adj): A direct synonym, also meaning unpleasant to the ear or dissonant. These two terms are often used interchangeably.
• Chói tai (adj): Shrill, piercing, ear-piercing (focuses more on high volume or pitch).
• Lộn xộn (adj): Chaotic, disorderly (can be used metaphorically for sound).

Synonyms

• Khó nghe: Hard to listen to, unpleasant-sounding.
• Chói tai: Shrill, piercing.
• Lạc điệu: Out of tune, discordant (specifically for music).

Antonyms

• Thuận tai: Pleasant to the ear, melodious.
• Dễ nghe: Easy to listen to.
• Êm tai: Soothing to the ear.

Related Idioms

• Tai này không thể nghe điều nghịch tai kia: (Literary) This ear cannot hear that which is dissonant. (Implies refusing to listen to unpleasant or disagreeable talk.)

1. như nghịch nhĩ