nhép
Definition
- Noun (derogatory, slang):
- A contemptuous term for a young person, especially a boy or young man, implying they are insignificant, immature, or beneath consideration. It carries a tone of disdain or belittlement.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Nó chỉ là một thằng nhép. (He's just an insignificant kid.)
- Đừng nghe lời mấy đứa nhép đó. (Don't listen to those worthless youngsters.)
Advanced Usage
- The word is almost exclusively used in informal, colloquial speech and is inherently pejorative. It is typically preceded by a classifier like "thằng" (for males) or "đứa" (for children/young people) to form a complete nominal phrase.
Variants and Related Words
- Nhãi (n, derogatory): brat, kid. A similarly derogatory term for a child.
- Nhóc (n, informal): kid, youngster. Can be affectionate or mildly derogatory depending on context, but generally less harsh than "nhép".
- Trẻ ranh (n, derogatory): immature young person, whippersnapper.
Synonyms
- Pipsqueak: a contemptuous term for a small or insignificant person.
- Whippersnapper: a young and inexperienced person perceived as presumptuous.
- Brat: a poorly behaved child (focuses on behavior, while "nhép" focuses on insignificance).
Related Idioms
- There are no common idioms directly using the word "nhép". Its usage is typically confined to the simple derogatory nominal phrase structure.