Definition

Verb (colloquial, often pejorative): - To booze; to drink alcohol heavily and socially: Refers specifically to the act of drinking alcohol, often beer or spirits, in a casual, prolonged, and sometimes rowdy gathering. It emphasizes the social and excessive nature of the drinking session rather than simply consuming a drink.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Tối nay tụi tôi định đi nhậu nhẹt. (Tonight we plan to go out for a booze-up.)
  • Anh ấy suốt ngày chỉ biết nhậu nhẹt với bạn bè. (All he does all day is booze with his friends.)
  • Sau trận bóng, cả đội ra quán nhậu nhẹt. (After the match, the whole team went to a food stall to drink.)

Advanced Usage

• The term carries a strong colloquial and often vulgar tone. It is frequently used in Southern Vietnamese dialects.
• It implies a session of eating and drinking, as these activities are typically combined in Vietnamese social culture ("ăn nhậu").

Variants and Related Words

• Nhậu (v): The shortened, more common form with the same core meaning.
  • Đi nhậu không? (Want to go for drinks?)
• Ăn nhậu (v): To eat and drink alcohol socially; a common compound phrase.
  • Quán đó chuyên phục vụ ăn nhậu. (That stall specializes in serving food and drinks.)

Synonyms

• To booze: To drink alcohol heavily.
• To carouse: To drink and make merry in a noisy, lively way.
• To tipple (informal): To drink alcohol regularly.

Related Idioms

• Nhậu xỉn: To get drunk from a boozing session.
  • Nhậu nhẹt say xỉn rồi về nhà gây chuyện. (He got drunk from boozing and then went home to start trouble.)
• La cà quán nhậu: To linger or hang out at drinking stalls.
  • Ông ấy thích la cà các quán nhậu. (He likes to hang out at drinking stalls.)

1. (địa phương) Booze