Definition

1. Verb:
   • To tease / to kid: To playfully make fun of someone or provoke them in a light-hearted, non-malicious manner. This is the most common meaning.
   • To banter / to jest: To engage in friendly, humorous, or flirtatious joking with someone.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đừng trêu chòng em nó nữa, nó sắp khóc đấy. (Stop teasing her; she's about to cry.)
  • Họ thích trêu chòng nhau mỗi khi gặp mặt. (They like to banter with each other whenever they meet.)
  • Anh ấy chỉ đang trêu chòng thôi, đừng nghiêm trọng hóa vấn đề. (He's just kidding; don't take it so seriously.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often implies a repeated, playful action intended to get a reaction, which could be laughter, slight annoyance, or embarrassment. The intent is rarely to cause genuine harm or offense.
• It can describe a style of social interaction common among friends, siblings, or romantic interests.

Variants and Related Words

• Trêu (v): to tease. A more common, shorter form of "trêu chòng."
  • Nó thích trêu chó. (He likes to tease the dog.)
• Chòng ghẹo (v): to tease, to flirt. Often has a stronger connotation of flirtatious teasing.
  • Cậu ấy hay chòng ghẹo các bạn nữ trong lớp. (He often teases/flirts with the girls in the class.)

Synonyms

• Tease: To make fun of or attempt to provoke in a playful way.
• Kid: To speak to someone in a joking or teasing manner.
• Banter: To exchange remarks in a good-humored, teasing way.
• Jest: To speak or act in a joking manner.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Trêu chòng chọc ghẹo: An extended, rhythmic phrase emphasizing continuous playful teasing.
  • Cả buổi tối họ chỉ ngồi trêu chòng chọc ghẹo. (All evening they just sat around teasing and joking with each other.)