Definition

1. Verb:
   • To harass: To persistently annoy, disturb, or trouble someone, often with repeated unwanted actions. This is the core meaning, implying a deliberate and bothersome intrusion.
   • To pester: To bother someone with frequent or repeated requests, questions, or interruptions.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Một nhóm thanh niên thường xuyên quấy phá khu dân cư. (A group of young people often harasses the residential area.)
  • Đừng quấy phá chị ấy khi chị ấy đang làm việc. (Don't pester her while she is working.)
  • Quân du kích quấy phá các vị trí của địch. (The guerrilla forces harassed the enemy's positions.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a connotation of minor but persistent aggression or nuisance, not necessarily causing major physical harm but creating disruption and distress.
• It can be used in both civilian contexts (e.g., children pestering adults, bullies harassing victims) and military/strategic contexts (e.g., harassing enemy troops).

Variants and Related Words

• Quấy rầy (v): To disturb, to bother. This is a close synonym, often interchangeable with "quấy phá," though it can sometimes imply a slightly less aggressive or more general disturbance.
  • Tiếng ồn quấy rầy giấc ngủ của tôi. (The noise disturbed my sleep.)
• Phá phách (v): To act destructively or mischievously, often causing damage. This emphasizes the destructive aspect more than persistent annoyance.
• Làm phiền (v): To bother, to trouble. A more general and common term for causing inconvenience.

Synonyms

• Harass: To subject to aggressive pressure or intimidation.
• Pester: To trouble or annoy someone with frequent or persistent requests or interruptions.
• Annoy: To irritate or bother someone mildly.
• Disturb: To interrupt the peace, quiet, or order of.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Quấy phá tinh thần: To harass mentally or psychologically.
  • Những cuộc gọi nặc danh quấy phá tinh thần cô ấy. (The anonymous calls harassed her mentally.)
• While "quấy phá" itself is commonly used, it is less frequent as a component in fixed idiomatic expressions compared to standalone usage.

1. Harass