nhả
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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."
- Spit out
- Ăn cá nhả xươngTo Spit out bones while eating fish
- Discharges, cough out
- Ông lò sưởi nhả khóiThe chimney discharges smoke
- Nhả tiền raTo cough out money
- Come unstuck, do not stick any longer
- Too familiar
- Nói nhảTo speak in too familiar way