Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Warped, bent, not straight: Describes an object, typically made of wood, that has become distorted, twisted, or curved out of its original flat or straight shape, often due to changes in moisture or temperature.
   • Haughty, arrogant (in demeanor): Describes a proud, disdainful, or conceited attitude, often shown by tilting one's head or face upward.

2. Verb:

   • To warp, to bend: The process of an object becoming distorted and losing its flatness.
   • To lift (one's head/face) haughtily: To raise one's head or face in a show of pride, arrogance, or contempt.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Tấm ván này bị vênh rồi. (This wooden plank is warped.)
  • Cái bàn gỗ dễ bị vênh nếu để ngoài trời mưa nắng. (Wooden tables easily become warped if left out in the rain and sun.)
  • Thái độ của anh ta lúc nào cũng vênh vênh. (His attitude is always somewhat haughty.)

• Verb:

  • Gỗ thông dễ vênh theo thời gian. (Pine wood tends to warp over time.)
  • Nó vênh mặt lên, tỏ vẻ không thèm để ý. (He lifted his face haughtily, showing that he couldn't be bothered.)

Advanced Usage

• "vênh vênh": (reduplicated form, adjective) Slightly warped; or having a somewhat haughty, disdainful air.

  • Cánh cửa mới làm đã hơi vênh vênh. (The newly made door is already slightly warped.)
  • Cô ấy đi đứng vênh vênh, coi thường mọi người. (She carries herself with a haughty air, looking down on everyone.)

• "vênh váo": (adjective/adverb) Acting in a blatantly arrogant, swaggering, or boastful manner.

  • Đừng có vênh váo chỉ vì được khen một lần. (Don't get all boastful just because you were praised once.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cong vênh: (adjective) Warped and bent; twisted out of shape.

  • Sàn nhà cũ đã cong vênh. (The old floor is warped and bent.)

• Vênh mặt: (verb phrase) To turn one's face away haughtily; to act disdainfully.

  • Nghe thấy thế, nó vênh mặt bỏ đi. (Hearing that, he turned his face away disdainfully and left.)

Synonyms

• Cong: Bent, curved (more general for bending).
• Méo: Distorted, misshapen (often for surfaces).
• Kiêu căng, ngạo mạn: Arrogant, haughty (for the attitude meaning).

Related Phrases (Verb + Object)

• Làm vênh: To cause something to warp.
  • Độ ẩm cao có thể làm vênh gỗ. (High humidity can cause wood to warp.)

Related Idioms

• Vợ dại không hại bằng đũa vênh: (Proverb) Literally "A foolish wife is not as harmful as warped chopsticks." Means that small, persistent annoyances or faulty tools can be more troublesome than a single major problem.
• Như kèo đục vênh: (Simile) Literally "Like a warped, chiseled rafter." Used to describe something that is mismatched, incompatible, or a bad fit, often in relationships or marriages.

adj

1. warped