Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Playful, mischievous: Describes a person, especially a child, who is fond of causing playful trouble or engaging in lively, naughty behavior that is not malicious but often disruptive or full of high spirits.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Thằng bé rất thông minh nhưng hay nghịch ngợm. (The boy is very intelligent but very mischievous.)
  • Lũ trẻ nghịch ngợm làm ồn cả lớp học. (The mischievous children made noise in the whole classroom.)
  • Cô bé có nụ cười nghịch ngợm. (The little girl has a mischievous smile.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often carries a tone of affectionate annoyance, implying the behavior is troublesome but endearing or typical of youthful energy.
• It can describe not only people but also the nature of actions or expressions.
  • Ánh mắt nghịch ngợm (a mischievous look in the eyes).

Variants and Related Words

• Nghịch (adj/v): Can mean "mischievous" as an adjective or "to play with/to fiddle with" as a verb. "Nghịch ngợm" is a more vivid and common adjective for describing personality.
  • Đừng nghịch cái remote! (Don't fiddle with the remote!)
• Tinh nghịch (adj): Also means mischievous, often with a clever or witty connotation.

Synonyms

• Mischievous: Inclined to cause playful trouble.
• Playful: Fond of fun and high-spirited activity.
• Naughty: Behaving disobediently or mischievously (slightly stronger connotation).
• Impish: Inclined to do slightly naughty things for fun.

Related Idioms

• While "nghịch ngợm" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, the behavior is central to phrases like:
  • Nghịch như quỷ sứ: (To be) as mischievous as a devil; extremely mischievous.

    • Thằng bé ấy nghịch như quỷ sứ. (That boy is as mischievous as a devil.)

1. Playful, mischievous
   • Thằng bé rất thông minh nhưng hay nghịch ngợm
     The boy is very inteelligent but very mischievous