Definition

1. Verb:
   • To grind; to grit; to gnash: To press and rub one's teeth together forcefully, often producing a harsh, grating sound. This is typically done due to anger, pain, frustration, or during sleep (bruxism).
   • To crush; to mash: To press or squeeze something with great force until it is broken, flattened, or destroyed. This often implies being caught between heavy, hard surfaces.
   • To rebuke sharply; to scold acrimoniously: To criticize or speak to someone with harsh, biting, and persistent severity.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to grind/grit):
  • Anh ấy tức giận đến nghiến răng ken két. (He was so angry he ground his teeth.)
  • Cô ấy nghiến răng vì đau đớn. (She gritted her teeth in pain.)
• Verb (to crush):
  • Chiếc xe tải đã nghiến nát chiếc xe đạp. (The truck crushed the bicycle flat.)
  • Anh ta bị mất ngón tay vì bị nghiến trong máy. (He lost a finger after it was crushed in the machine.)
• Verb (to rebuke):
  • Bà mẹ chồng luôn nghiến con dâu vì những lỗi nhỏ. (The mother-in-law always scolds her daughter-in-law acrimoniously over small mistakes.)

Advanced Usage

• "nghiến răng" (idiomatic verb phrase): Literally "to grind teeth," used to express intense anger, hatred, or extreme frustration that is suppressed.
  • Hắn chỉ biết nghiến răng nhìn kẻ thù. (He could only gnash his teeth while looking at his enemy.)
• "ăn nghiến" (colloquial): To eat something very quickly and voraciously.
  • Đứa trẻ ăn nghiến gói bánh trong nháy mắt. (The child wolfed down the pack of cakes in an instant.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nghiến ngấu (v): To eat greedily and very quickly; to devour. (A more emphatic form of "ăn nghiến").
  • Nó nghiến ngấu bữa tối rồi chạy đi chơi. (He gobbled up his dinner and ran out to play.)
• Nghiền (v): To grind into powder; to crush finely. (Focuses on the result into small particles, not the forceful action).
  • Nghiền hạt tiêu. (To grind peppercorns.)
• Nghiện (adj): Addicted; having a compulsive habit.
  • Anh ấy nghiện cà phê. (He is addicted to coffee.)

Synonyms

• To grind / To gnash: For teeth (nghiến răng).
• To crush / To mash / To pulverize: For physical destruction.
• To scold / To berate / To lambaste: For harsh criticism.

Related Idioms

• Nói nghiến: To speak in a sharp, biting, and severe tone.
  • Bà ta nói nghiến từng lời khiển trách. (She spoke each word of reprimand with sharp severity.)

verb

1. to grind; to grit; to gnash
   • nghiến răng
     to grind one's teeth