Definition

1. Verb:
   • To coax, to wheedle, to sweet-talk: The act of using flattering, gentle, or deceptive words to persuade someone to do something or to gain their favor or trust, often with a slightly insincere or manipulative undertone.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ta dùng lời ngon ngọt để phỉnh phờ cô ấy. (He used sweet words to coax her.)
  • Đừng để bị phỉnh phờ bởi những lời hứa hẹn suông. (Don't be wheedled by empty promises.)
  • Tên lừa đảo phỉnh phờ cụ già để chiếm đoạt tài sản. (The scammer coaxed the old man to seize his assets.)

Advanced Usage

• "phỉnh phờ ai đó làm gì": to coax/wheedle someone into doing something.
  • Nó phỉnh phờ tôi cho mượn tiền. (He coaxed me into lending him money.)

Variants and Related Words

• Phỉnh (verb): A shorter, more common synonym meaning to deceive, to trick, or to coax. "Phỉnh phờ" is a reduplicative form that emphasizes the action.
  • Nó phỉnh tôi mua chiếc xe cũ đó. (He tricked me into buying that old car.)
• Dụ dỗ (verb): To entice, to lure (often stronger, implying temptation).
• Nịnh hót (verb): To flatter, to butter up (focuses more on praise to gain favor).

Synonyms

• Dỗ dành: To soothe, to pacify (often used with children, less manipulative).
• Tán tỉnh: To flirt, to court (in a romantic context).
• Lừa dối: To deceive, to cheat (more direct and negative).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Phỉnh phờ, nịnh nọt: To coax and flatter (a common paired phrase emphasizing persuasive tactics).
  • Hắn chỉ giỏi phỉnh phờ, nịnh nọt cấp trên. (He's only good at coaxing and flattering his superiors.)

Related Idioms

• Phỉnh phờ chim sổ lồng: Literally "to coax a bird out of its cage"; meaning to use clever talk to achieve a difficult persuasion.
  • Với tài phỉnh phờ chim sổ lồng, hắn thuyết phục được đối tác ký hợp đồng. (With his skill of coaxing a bird out of its cage, he persuaded the partner to sign the contract.)

1. Coax