vặc
Definition
- Verb:
- To retort sharply; to snap back: To reply quickly and angrily in a brief, aggressive manner during an argument or dispute.
- To exchange heated words; to bicker: To engage in a short, sharp verbal conflict where both parties speak harshly.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cô ấy vặc lại ngay khi bị chỉ trích. (She snapped back immediately when criticized.)
- Hai đứa trẻ vặc nhau về đồ chơi. (The two children bickered sharply over the toy.)
Advanced Usage
- The verb "vặc" is almost exclusively used to describe a specific, abrupt, and often rude style of verbal exchange. It implies a reaction that is not just a reply, but a hostile counter-attack in conversation.
Variants and Related Words
- Cãi nhau (v): to argue. This is a more general term for arguing, while "vặc" describes a sharper, quicker form of verbal sparring.
- Cáu (v/adj): to get irritated; irritable. This describes the emotional state that often leads to "vặc".
Synonyms
- To retort: to answer back, especially sharply.
- To snap: to say something quickly in an angry or irritated way.
- To bicker: to argue about unimportant things in a bad-tempered way.
Related Idioms
- Vặc lại: to talk back; to answer defiantly. This phrasal form emphasizes the act of defiantly snapping back at someone, often an authority figure.
- Đứa bé không dám vặc lại mẹ. (The child did not dare talk back to his mother.)