Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Meddlesome; officious: Describes a person who habitually interferes in matters that are not their responsibility or business.
   • Tattling; tale-bearing: Characterizes a person who has a tendency to report or gossip about others, often with malicious intent.

2. Verb (colloquial):

   • To meddle; to poke one's nose into: To involve oneself in affairs that are not one's concern.
   • To tattle; to snitch: To maliciously report on someone's actions or secrets.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Đừng có thày lay vào chuyện người khác. (Don't be meddlesome in other people's business.)
  • Đứa bé hay thày lắm, cứ đi mách lẻo. (That child is very tattletale, always running to tell tales.)

• Verb:

  • Nó cứ thích thày lay vào việc của hàng xóm. (He always likes to meddle in the neighbors' affairs.)
  • Ai đã thày lay chuyện này với sếp? (Who tattled about this to the boss?)

Advanced Usage

• The word is often used in a critical or disapproving tone to describe annoying and unnecessary interference. It implies a lack of boundaries and a troublesome personality.

Variants and Related Words

• Thày lay hớt lẻo (adj/phrase): A common compound emphasizing both meddlesomeness and gossipy, tattling behavior.
  • Bà ấy nổi tiếng là thày lay hớt lẻo trong xóm. (She is famous for being a meddlesome gossip in the neighborhood.)

Synonyms

• Meddlesome: Interfering in others' affairs.
• Officious: Assertively offering unwanted advice or service.
• Tattletale: A person who reveals secrets or informs on others.
• Busybody: A meddlesome person who pries into others' affairs.

Related Idioms and Proverbs

• "Thày lay chày cấu cổ" (proverb): Literally "meddling leads to getting one's neck wrung." It warns that unnecessary interference will bring trouble or retribution upon oneself.
  • Cứ thày lay đi, rồi "thày lay chày cấu cổ" cho mà xem. (Keep on meddling, and you'll see how "meddling gets your neck wrung.")