tọc mạch

Một người hàng xóm tọc mạch nhìn qua hàng rào.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Nosy / Prying: Having or showing too much curiosity about other people's private affairs or business. It describes someone who intrusively seeks information that is not their concern.
   • Meddlesome / Interfering: Inclined to involve oneself in matters without being asked or needed.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cô hàng xóm đó rất tọc mạch. (That neighbor is very nosy.)
  • Đừng có tọc mạch vào chuyện của người khác. (Don't pry into other people's business.)
  • Ánh mắt tọc mạch của anh ta làm tôi khó chịu. (His prying eyes made me uncomfortable.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is often used in a disapproving or critical tone to describe unwanted curiosity. It implies a negative judgment on the person's behavior.

Variants and Related Words

• Tò mò (adj): Curious. This is a more neutral term for curiosity, whereas is always negative and intrusive.
  • Đứa trẻ nào cũng tò mò về thế giới xung quanh. (Every child is curious about the world around them.)

Synonyms

• Nosy: Inquisitive in an intrusive way.
• Prying: Attempting to discover private information.
• Meddlesome: Interfering in others' affairs.
• Snoopy: Informal synonym for nosy.

Related Idioms

• While itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, its meaning is central to common reproaches:
  • Chuyện đó không liên quan đến anh, đừng tọc mạch. (That matter doesn't concern you, don't be nosy.)