thây lẩy

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Stubbornly disobedient or recalcitrant: Describes a person, especially a child, who is willfully disobedient, refuses to listen to advice or correction, and behaves in a contrary manner.
   • Perverse and difficult to manage: Refers to a stubborn and contrary attitude that makes someone hard to guide or control.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Đứa bé rất thây lẩy, bảo gì cũng không nghe. (The child is very recalcitrant; he doesn't listen to anything he's told.)
  • Tính nó thây lẩy, chẳng chịu hợp tác với ai. (He has a perverse temperament and refuses to cooperate with anyone.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in informal contexts to describe frustratingly stubborn behavior, particularly in children or adolescents who defy authority figures like parents or teachers.

Variants and Related Words

• Thay lảy: This is a variant spelling of the same word with identical meaning.
  • Nó cứ thay lảy, không chịu làm bài tập. (He keeps being disobedient and refuses to do his homework.)

Synonyms

• Recalcitrant: Resisting authority or control.
• Disobedient: Refusing to obey rules or someone in authority.
• Contrary: Perversely inclined to disagree or to do the opposite of what is expected or desired.
• Wayward: Difficult to control or predict because of willful or perverse behavior.

Related Idioms

• Cứng đầu cứng cổ: (Stiff-headed and stiff-necked) An idiom meaning extremely stubborn and obstinate. This is a stronger, more common synonym for the attitude described by "thây lẩy."
  • Đừng có cứng đầu cứng cổ như thế! (Don't be so stubborn!)