Definition

Adjective: - To have a quick tongue, to be quick-tongued: Describes a person who speaks hastily or impulsively, often answering or commenting before being asked or before fully considering the situation. It implies a lack of restraint in speech, which can lead to tactlessness or indiscretion.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Đứa bé rất nhạy miệng, chưa nghe hết câu hỏi đã trả lời. (The child is very quick-tongued, answering before hearing the full question.)
  • Cô ấy nhạy miệng nên đôi khi làm mất lòng người khác. (She has a quick tongue, so she sometimes offends others.)
  • Đừng có nhạy miệng, hãy suy nghĩ trước khi nói. (Don't be so quick to speak; think before you talk.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a mildly negative or cautionary connotation, highlighting a character flaw where speaking too quickly results in social blunders or the revealing of secrets.

Variants and Related Words

• Nhạy bén (adj): sharp, quick-witted, perceptive (generally positive, relating to quick understanding rather than speech).
• Lắm mồm / Nhiều chuyện (adj): talkative, gossipy (emphasizes excessive talking rather than specifically hasty responses).

Synonyms

• Impulsive in speech: Prone to speaking without forethought.
• Indiscreet: Revealing things that should be kept secret.
• Tactless: Lacking sensitivity in what one says.

Related Idioms

• Ăn không kịp nhai, nói không kịp nghĩ: To eat without chewing, to speak without thinking. This idiom perfectly illustrates the concept of being "nhạy miệng."
• Nhanh mồm nhanh miệng: Quick-mouthed (a close synonym with a similar meaning).

1. Have a quick tongue, be quick-tongued and answer before one is spoken tọ