Definition

1. Verb:
   • To open one's mouth wide and crudely (to speak, argue, cry, etc.): "quạc" describes the action of opening one's mouth very wide, often in a loud, crude, or unrefined manner while talking back, arguing, or crying out.
   • To quack (onomatopoeia): "quạc" is also the sound a duck makes.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to open mouth crudely):

  • Đừng có quạc mồm ra mà cãi với người lớn như thế! (Don't you dare talk back to adults with your mouth wide open like that!)
  • Nó quạc mồm ra gào khóc. (He opened his mouth wide and bawled.)

• Verb (onomatopoeia for duck sound):

  • Đàn vịt kêu "quạc quạc". (The ducks went "quack quack".)

Advanced Usage

• "quạc mồm ra": This is a common fixed phrase meaning "to open one's mouth wide (to argue/shout/cry)". It carries a strong negative connotation of being rude, loud, and disrespectful.
  • Nó dám quạc mồm ra cãi lại thầy giáo. (He dared to talk back to the teacher with his mouth agape.)

Variants and Related Words

• quàng quạc (reduplicative, intensive form): This form intensifies the meaning, emphasizing the loud, crude, and chaotic nature of the speech or sound.
  • Suốt ngày chỉ nghe thấy chúng nó quàng quạc với nhau. (All day long, you only hear them bickering loudly and crudely with each other.)

Synonyms

• Há mồm/Há miệng: To open one's mouth (neutral). "Quạc" is a much more vivid and negative version.
• Gào: To yell, to howl. Often used with "quạc" (e.g., ).
• Cãi: To argue. "Quạc" describes the of arguing.

Notes on Different Meanings

1. Primary Meaning (Verb): The most common usage is as a verb depicting a crude, wide-mouthed action accompanying loud speech or crying. It is almost always used pejoratively.
2. Onomatopoeic Meaning: This meaning directly imitates the sound of a duck. Context makes it clear which meaning is intended (e.g., describing human behavior vs. animal sounds).

1. Argue (speak, cry ...) loud-mouthedly
   • Quạc mồm ra mà cãi
     To talk back loud-mouthedly
   • quàng quạc (láy, ý tăng)