Definition

1. Verb:

   • To spit out, to discharge: To expel something from the mouth or an opening. This is the core meaning.
   • To release, to let go (often reluctantly): To give up or relinquish something, especially money or possessions.
   • To become unstuck, to detach: For something that was glued or stuck to come loose.

2. Adjective:

   • Too soft or mushy: Used primarily to describe overcooked rice that has lost its structure.
   • Too familiar, overly casual: Describing behavior, speech, or joking that is excessively informal or lacks proper respect.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Ăn cá phải biết cách nhả xương. (When eating fish, you must know how to spit out the bones.)
  • Ống khói nhả khói đen. (The chimney discharged black smoke.)
  • Cuối cùng hắn cũng phải nhả tiền. (He finally had to cough up the money.)
  • Tờ áp phích trên tường đã nhả ra. (The poster on the wall has come unstuck.)

• Adjective:

  • Nồi cơm này hơi nhả. (This pot of rice is a bit too mushy.)
  • Đừng nói nhả với người lớn. (Don't speak in a too familiar way to elders.)

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Mechanical Use: In technical contexts, "nhả" can mean to disengage or release a mechanism.

  • Nhả phanh. (To release the brake.)

• Literary/Figurative Use:

  • Nhả ngọc phun châu. (To spit jade and spray pearls.) This is an old literary idiom praising eloquent and beautiful speech or writing.

Variants and Related Words

• Nhả ra (v): A more emphatic form meaning to spit out, release, or detach.
• Nhả xương (v. phrase): Literally "to spit out bones"; the standard phrase for removing bones while eating.

Synonyms

• Spit out: To eject from the mouth.
• Discharge: To emit or release.
• Relinquish: To give up (especially under pressure).
• Detach: To become separated.
• Mushy: Soft and pulpy (for food).
• Overfamiliar: Excessively informal.

Related Idioms

• Nhả ngọc phun châu: As mentioned above, an idiom for speaking or writing with exceptional eloquence and beauty. It carries a formal, literary tone.
• Phải nhả tiền: A common colloquial phrase meaning "to be forced to pay up" or "to cough up the money."

1. Spit out
   • Ăn cá nhả xương
     To Spit out bones while eating fish
2. Discharges, cough out
   • Ông lò sưởi nhả khói
     The chimney discharges smoke
   • Nhả tiền ra
     To cough out money
3. Come unstuck, do not stick any longer
4. Too familiar
   • Nói nhả
     To speak in too familiar way