trây
Definition
Verb:
- To evade or shirk (a debt or responsibility): The primary meaning of "trây" is to intentionally avoid paying a debt or fulfilling an obligation.
- To talk recklessly or defiantly: To speak in a stubborn, brazen, or irresponsible manner, often denying or arguing without basis.
Verb (dialectal usage):
- To smear or stain: To dirty or soil something by smearing a substance on it.
Usage Examples
Verb (evade):
- Hắn cứ trây nợ mãi không chịu trả. (He keeps evading the debt and refuses to pay.)
- Đừng có trây việc! (Don't shirk your work!)
Verb (talk recklessly):
- Nó biết nó sai nhưng vẫn cố nói trây. (He knows he's wrong but still tries to talk his way out of it defiantly.)
Verb (smear - dialect):
- Đứa bé trây mỡ lên tường. (The child smeared grease on the wall.)
Advanced Usage
- "trây ỳ": to act stubbornly or play dumb; to feign ignorance or unwillingness to cooperate.
- Bảo nó làm thì nó cứ trây ỳ ra. (When told to do it, he just acts stubborn and refuses.)
Variants and Related Words
- Trây nợ (v): to default on a debt, to be a deadbeat.
- Kẻ trây nợ đó cuối cùng cũng bị kiện. (That debtor who defaulted was finally sued.)
Synonyms
- Evade: to avoid or escape, especially a duty or payment.
- Shirk: to avoid (work or duty).
- Default: to fail to repay a debt.
- Smear: to coat or mark with a greasy or sticky substance.
Related Idioms
- Nói trây: to argue brazenly or talk back defiantly in the face of clear fault.
- Có bằng chứng đầy đủ rồi, nó vẫn nói trây. (With full evidence in hand, he still argues brazenly.)