Definition

1. Verb:
   • To challenge, to dare: To invite someone to compete, fight, or prove they can do something difficult or risky.
   • To overprice, to quote an inflated initial price: To state an asking price that is deliberately much higher than what one expects to receive, as an opening tactic in bargaining (commonly used in the phrase "nói thách").
   • To demand (as a bride price): To request gifts, money, or ceremonial items from the groom's family as a traditional part of wedding arrangements (commonly used in the phrase "thách cưới").

Usage Examples

• Verb (to challenge):
  • Anh ấy thách tôi chạy đua. (He challenged me to a race.)
  • Nó thách tôi dám nhảy xuống hồ bơi. (He dared me to jump into the swimming pool.)
• Verb (to overprice):
  • Người bán hàng nói thách giá rất cao. (The vendor quoted a very high initial price.)
  • Ở chợ, người ta thường nói thách. (In the market, people usually overprice initially.)
• Verb (to demand in a wedding):
  • Nhà gái thách cưới mâm trầu cau và rượu. (The bride's family requested betel nuts, areca, and wine as part of the wedding ceremony.)

Advanced Usage

• "thách đấu": to challenge to a duel or a formal contest.
  • Hai hiệp sĩ thách đấu nhau. (The two knights challenged each other to a duel.)
• "thách thức": This is a distinct but related noun meaning "a challenge" (difficulty, obstacle).
  • Dự án này là một thách thức lớn. (This project is a major challenge.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nói thách (v): The common phrase for the act of overpricing during bargaining.
• Thách cưới (v/n): The act or the specific items demanded as a traditional bride price.

Synonyms

• Challenge / Dare: to defy, to provoke, to invite competition.
• Overcharge / Inflate the price: to ask too much (specifically as an initial bargaining tactic).
• Request / Demand: to ask for formally (in the context of wedding traditions).

Related Idioms

• Thách thức số phận: To tempt fate; to act in a way that recklessly challenges destiny.
  • Lái xe quá nhanh là thách thức số phận. (Driving too fast is tempting fate.)

verb

1. to challenge, to defy
2. (nói thách) to overcharge (prices)
3. (thách cưới) to ask for (in wedding)