Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Sharp-tongued, shrewish: Used to describe a person, typically a woman, who is argumentative, talks too much, or speaks in a nagging, unpleasant manner.
   • Untruthful, prone to exaggeration: Describes a person who speaks falsely, adds untrue details, or distorts the truth.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Con gái gì mà ngoa thế! (What a sharp-tongued girl! / What a shrew of a girl!)
  • Đừng có nghe lời nó, nó nói ngoa đấy. (Don't listen to him/her, he/she is speaking untruthfully.)
  • Bà ấy ngoa lắm, chuyện nhỏ xé ra to. (She is very prone to exaggeration, she makes a mountain out of a molehill.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ngoa ngoắt" / "Ngoa ngoét": These are intensified or more colloquial variants of "ngoa," emphasizing the negative traits of being sharp-tongued or untruthful.
  • Cô ta không chỉ ngoa mà còn ngoa ngoắt. (She is not just sharp-tongued; she's downright shrewish.)
• "Ngoa mồm": Specifically refers to the act of speaking untruthfully or exaggerating with one's mouth.
  • Thằng bé hay ngoa mồm, kể chuyện trên trời dưới biển. (That boy often tells tall tales, spinning yarns about heaven and earth.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngoa ngoắt (adj): Very sharp-tongued, extremely shrewish.
• Ngoa ngoét (adj): Very untruthful, prone to blatant lies or exaggeration.
• Ngoa mồm (adj/phrase): Having a lying mouth; untruthful in speech.

Synonyms

• Lắm điều (adj): Talkative (often in a negative, gossipy sense).
• Khoác lác (v/adj): To boast, to brag (implies exaggeration).
• Nói dối (v): To lie.
• Đanh đá (adj): Sharp-tongued, tart (specifically for women).

Notes on Usage

• The word "ngoa" is often used to describe women and carries a strong negative connotation. When used for men, it typically emphasizes the "untruthful" meaning rather than "shrewish."
• It is considered informal and somewhat derogatory.
• The meaning can shift slightly based on context: it can emphasize either a nagging, argumentative personality ("shrewish") or a habitual tendency to distort the truth ("untruthful").

1. Sharp-tongue
   • Con gái gì mà ngoa thế!
     What a sharp tongue that girl has! What a shrew of a girl!
2. Untruthful