Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mischievous or cunning child: A term, often used pejoratively, to describe a child who is clever in a naughty, sly, or troublesome way. It implies the child is acting beyond their years in a disrespectful or irritating manner.
   • Little devil: A colloquial and somewhat harsh label for a child perceived as being impudent, cheeky, or overly shrewd.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Thằng bé đó đúng là một đứa ranh con, luôn nghĩ ra trò để chọc phá người khác. (That boy is a real little devil, always thinking of tricks to annoy others.)
  • Đồ ranh con! Đi ra chỗ khác chơi! (You little brat! Go play somewhere else!)
  • Bọn ranh con trong xóm thỉnh thoảng lại lấy trộm trái cây trong vườn. (The mischievous kids in the neighborhood occasionally steal fruit from the garden.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used in informal, spoken language and carries a strong negative connotation. It is commonly used by adults in moments of frustration or anger toward a child's behavior. While it can be used humorously among friends, it is generally considered impolite and demeaning.

Variants and Related Words

• Ranh ma (adj): Sly, cunning, crafty. This adjective describes a person (not necessarily a child) who is shrewd in a deceptive way.
  • Nó là đứa trẻ ranh ma. (He is a cunning child.)

Synonyms

• Brat: A poorly behaved, annoying child.
• Rascal: A mischievous or cheeky person, often used with some affection but can also be critical.
• Imp: A small, mischievous creature or child.
• Whippersnapper: An unimportant but cheeky young person (somewhat dated).

Related Idioms

• While "ranh con" itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, its usage aligns with the tone of expressions used to scold misbehaving children.

noun

1. little devil