Definition

1. Verb:
   • To spit at/upon someone or something: To forcibly eject saliva from one's mouth in the direction of a person or thing as a deliberate, contemptuous act of insult, disdain, or extreme disrespect.
   • To scorn, to despise utterly: To treat someone or something with profound contempt and disgust, often expressed through words or actions equivalent to the physical act of spitting.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đám đông tức giận phỉ nhổ vào tên phản bội. (The angry crowd spat upon the traitor.)
  • Hành động hèn hạ của hắn chỉ đáng bị mọi người phỉ nhổ. (His vile actions only deserve to be scorned and spat upon by everyone.)
  • Không ai có quyền phỉ nhổ người khác. (No one has the right to show utter contempt for others.)

Advanced Usage

• Used in formal or literary contexts: The term carries strong emotional weight and is typically used in serious condemnations, historical narratives, or literary works to describe an extreme social or moral rejection. It is not used in casual conversation.
  • Lịch sử sẽ phỉ nhổ những kẻ bán nước. (History will spit upon those who sell out their country.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khinh bỉ (verb): To despise, to scorn, to look down upon. (A core meaning of "phỉ nhổ", but less visceral and physical).
• Coi khinh (verb): To regard with contempt.
• Phỉ (verb - literary): To spit. Often seen in the compound "phỉ nhổ".
• Nhổ (verb): To spit, to eject (saliva, water). Often seen in the compound "phỉ nhổ".

Synonyms

• Spit upon/at: The direct physical action.
• Despise: To feel a deep, profound contempt for.
• Scorn: To treat with disdain or contempt.
• Hold in contempt: To consider someone utterly unworthy of respect.

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Phỉ nhổ vào danh dự (của ai): To spit upon (someone's) honor; to utterly disgrace or disrespect someone's honor.
  • Anh ta đã phỉ nhổ vào danh dự của cả gia tộc. (He spat upon the honor of the entire clan.)

1. Spit at, spit up, spit upon