Definition

1. Verb phrase (idiomatic, colloquial):
   • To be negatively influenced by someone; to pick up someone's bad habits or traits: This phrase describes the act of acquiring undesirable characteristics, behaviors, or vices from another person through close association or imitation. It implies a passive, almost infectious, transmission of negative influence.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Đứa bé nói dối vì ăn phải đũa anh nó. (The child lies because he picked up the bad habit from his older brother.)
  • Cậu ấy hút thuốc, chắc là phải đũa bạn bè xấu. (He smokes; he probably was negatively influenced by bad friends.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used in a cautionary or explanatory context, to attribute a person's flawed behavior to the corrupting influence of their social circle, particularly family or close friends.
• It carries a slightly vulgar or very informal tone, as indicated in source dictionaries.

Variants and Related Words

• Nhiễm thói xấu: (Verb phrase) To be infected with a bad habit. This is a more formal or direct synonym.

Synonyms

• To be corrupted by: to be made morally corrupt by someone.
• To pick up a bad habit from: to acquire an undesirable practice from someone.
• To fall under someone's bad influence: to start behaving badly because of another person's impact.

Related Idioms

• Gần mực thì đen, gần đèn thì sáng: (Proverb) Literally, "Near ink, you get black; near light, you get bright." This means you are influenced by the company you keep. "Phải đũa" specifically relates to the negative outcome ("near ink").