Definition

1. Verb:
   • To bully; to intimidate: To threaten or frighten someone, especially someone perceived as weaker, younger, or less experienced, in order to force them to do something or to assert dominance.
   • To scold harshly; to rebuke angrily: To speak to someone in a loud, angry, and threatening manner.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ta thường nạt các bạn nhỏ hơn. (He often bullies the younger kids.)
  • Đừng nạt em bé! (Don't scold the baby like that!)
  • Ma cũ nạt ma mới. (The old hand bullies the greenhorn.) (Proverb)

Advanced Usage

• The word "nạt" often implies an imbalance of power, where the person doing the "nạt" has some form of advantage (e.g., seniority, experience, physical strength) over the target.
• It can describe behavior ranging from verbal threats and harsh scolding to psychological intimidation.

Variants and Related Words

• Nạt nộ (v): A more emphatic form meaning to scold or rebuke someone very angrily and loudly.
  • Bố mẹ nạt nộ khi đứa trẻ nghịch ngợm. (The parents scolded the child angrily for being mischievous.)

Synonyms

• Bully: To use superior strength or influence to intimidate someone.
• Intimidate: To frighten or overawe someone, especially to make them do what one wants.
• Browbeat: To intimidate someone with stern or abusive words.
• Scold: To remonstrate with or rebuke someone angrily.

Related Idioms

• Nạt như tát nước: To scold or shout at someone incessantly and violently, like splashing water.

  • Sếp nạt nhân viên như tát nước. (The boss berated the employee relentlessly.)

• Ma cũ nạt ma mới: An idiom and proverb meaning "The old hand bullies the newbie." It describes a situation where someone with seniority or experience intimidates or takes advantage of a newcomer.

1. Bully, cow
   • Ma cũ nạt ma mới (tục ngữ)
     The old hand bullies the green-horn