Definition

1. Verb:
   • To humiliate (someone) by pointing out their flaws: The act of criticizing or mocking someone by deliberately highlighting their shortcomings or defects, with the intention of causing them emotional pain or shame.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy thường nhiếc móc vợ mình trước mặt bạn bè. (He often humiliates his wife in front of friends by pointing out her flaws.)
  • Đừng nhiếc móc người khác vì những khuyết điểm của họ. (Don't humiliate others because of their defects.)

Advanced Usage

• "nhiếc móc nhau": to humiliate each other by trading insults about flaws.
  • Hai người họ cứ nhiếc móc nhau suốt buổi họp. (The two of them spent the whole meeting humiliating each other.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhiếc (verb): to scold, to rebuke harshly. This is a stronger, more direct component of "nhiếc móc."
• Móc (verb): to hook, to pick at. In this compound, it figuratively means to "pick at" or "dig up" someone's faults.
• Chửi mắng (verb): to swear at, to curse. This is a more general term for verbal abuse, which can include "nhiếc móc."
• Chê bai (verb): to criticize, to disparage. This is criticism that may or may not have the intent to humiliate.

Synonyms

• Làm nhục: to disgrace, to dishonor.
• Sỉ nhục: to insult, to affront (often with a stronger sense of public shaming).

Related Phrases

• Nói xấu sau lưng: to speak ill of someone behind their back. This is related but focuses on gossip rather than direct confrontation.
• Bới móc: to dig up (dirt/secrets). This shares the "móc" component and means to dig up someone's past mistakes or secrets, often to criticize or humiliate them.

1. Humiliate (someone) with remarks on his defects