nạt
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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.
- Bully, cow
- Ma cũ nạt ma mới (tục ngữ)The old hand bullies the green-horn