Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Mischievously wicked: Describes a person, action, or thing that is cunningly and deliberately naughty or harmful, often in a sly, playful, or underhanded manner that causes trouble, distress, or suffering to others. It implies a blend of cleverness and malice.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Đứa trẻ đó rất tai quái. (That child is very mischievously wicked.)
  • Nó nghĩ ra những trò tai quái để trêu chọc bạn bè. (He thinks up mischievously wicked tricks to tease his friends.)
  • Ánh mắt tai quái của nó khiến mọi người khó chịu. (His mischievously wicked look made everyone uncomfortable.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often describes not just simple mischief but a more calculated, sharp, or even cruel cleverness intended to cause harm or annoyance.
  • Thủ đoạn buôn lậu của băng nhóm đó thật tai quái. (The smuggling tactics of that gang are truly mischievously wicked.)

Variants and Related Words

• Quái ác (adj): Cruel, wicked, evil. This is stronger and emphasizes pure malice over clever mischief.

  • Tên tội phạm có hành động quái ác. (The criminal committed cruel acts.)

• Tinh quái (adj): Sly, cunning, mischievous. This focuses more on cleverness and slyness, with a slightly less strong implication of deliberate harm than "tai quái."

  • Cô bé có nụ cười tinh quái. (The little girl had a sly smile.)

Synonyms

• Mischievous: Causing or fond of causing trouble in a playful way.
• Wicked: Evil or morally wrong; often used for serious harm.
• Sly: Having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature.
• Malicious: Characterized by malice; intending to do harm.

Related Idioms

• Tai quái như quỷ: As mischievously wicked as a devil. Used to emphasize extreme cunning and naughtiness.
  • Đứa bé ấy tai quái như quỷ, luôn tìm cách phá rối. (That kid is as mischievously wicked as a devil, always finding ways to cause trouble.)

adj

1. mischievously wiched