tai ngược
Definition
- Adjective:
- Perverse / Contrary: Describes a person, especially a child, who is deliberately difficult, stubborn, or defiant, often acting against reasonable requests or expectations in a vexing manner.
- Fractious / Cantankerous: Refers to a quarrelsome, bad-tempered, or unruly disposition, often characterized by being demanding and irritable.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Đứa bé đó thật tai ngược. (That child is truly perverse.)
- Nó có tính tai ngược, bảo gì cũng không nghe. (He has a contrary nature and won't listen to anything he's told.)
- Con bé tai ngược luôn cãi lại mẹ. (The fractious girl always talks back to her mother.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a strong negative connotation and is typically used to describe behavior that is seen as intentionally oppositional and irritating, rather than merely independent or strong-willed.
Variants and Related Words
- Ngang ngược (adj): defiant, insolent, rebellious. This is a close synonym, often implying a stronger sense of arrogance or disobedience.
- Thái độ ngang ngược của nó không thể chấp nhận được. (His insolent attitude is unacceptable.)
Synonyms
- Perverse: Willfully determined to go against what is expected or reasonable.
- Contrary: Perversely inclined to disagree or oppose.
- Fractious: Irritable and quarrelsome.
- Cantankerous: Bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.
Related Idioms
- While "tai ngược" itself is not commonly part of a wider idiom, the behavior it describes is often captured in phrases like "bướng bỉnh" (stubborn) or "cứng đầu" (hard-headed).