nịnh nót
Definition
- Verb:
- To flatter / to butter up: The act of praising someone excessively, often insincerely, to gain favor, approval, or a specific advantage.
- To fawn over / to toady to: Behaving in an overly attentive, servile, or submissive manner towards someone perceived as powerful or useful.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ta chỉ biết nịnh nót sếp để được thăng chức. (He only knows how to flatter the boss to get a promotion.)
- Đừng nịnh nót tôi, hãy nói sự thật đi. (Don't butter me up, tell the truth.)
- Cô ấy luôn nịnh nót những người giàu có. (She always fawns over wealthy people.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "nịnh nót" carries a strong negative connotation, implying manipulation, insincerity, and a lack of integrity in social interaction. It is more critical than the neutral verb "khen" (to praise).
Variants and Related Words
- Nịnh (v): A shorter, slightly more colloquial form with the same core meaning as "nịnh nót."
- Nó rất giỏi nịnh bố mẹ. (He is very good at buttering up his parents.)
- Nịnh hót (v): A synonym with identical meaning and negative connotation.
- Tôi ghét những kẻ nịnh hót. (I hate sycophants.)
Synonyms
- Flatter: To praise excessively, especially to please.
- Butter up: (Informal) To flatter someone to gain their cooperation.
- Fawn over: To flatter someone in an exaggerated, servile way.
- Toady to: To act in an obsequious way towards someone important.
Related Idioms
- Nịnh đầm: (Literally: to flatter the lady) An idiom describing the act of a man using flattery to woo or please a woman, often with a playful or slightly cynical tone.
- Anh chàng đó giỏi nghệ thuật nịnh đầm. (That guy is skilled in the art of sweet-talking women.)