Definition

1. Verb (colloquial, informal):
   • To scold harshly / to tell off / to give a dressing-down: To reprimand someone severely and angrily, often in a loud or forceful manner. This usage is derived from the imagery of a forceful, aggressive action.
   • To charge (a battery): In modern, everyday usage, "xạc" is a common, shortened form of "sạc," meaning to charge an electronic device's battery.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to scold):

  • Bố nó vừa xạc nó một trận nên thân. (His father just gave him a proper telling-off.)
  • Sếp xạc nhân viên vì đến muộn. (The boss tore a strip off the employee for being late.)

• Verb (to charge):

  • Tôi cần xạc điện thoại. (I need to charge my phone.)
  • Pin máy tính hết rồi, đi xạc đi. (The laptop battery is dead; go charge it.)

Advanced Usage

• The original, colloquial meaning of "to scold harshly" is considered informal and carries a vulgar or very strong connotation, implying a forceful, almost physical verbal attack.
• The meaning "to charge" is now dominant in daily conversation, especially among younger generations, and is considered standard informal speech, having evolved from the word "sạc."

Variants and Related Words

• Sạc (v): The standard, more formal spelling for "to charge." "Xạc" is a common phonetic variation.
  • Cái sạc dự phòng (The power bank / The backup charger).

Synonyms

• To scold: Reprimand, berate, chew out (informal), give someone an earful.
• To charge: Recharge, power up.

Notes on Usage

• Register: When meaning "to scold," the word is very informal and can be impolite. It is typically used in spoken language or informal narratives.
• Context is Key: The intended meaning is entirely dependent on context. "Tôi đang xạc nó" could mean "I am charging it" (a device) or, in a different context, "I am giving him/her a severe scolding."
• Evolution of Meaning: The "charging" meaning has largely overtaken the older "scolding" meaning in frequency of use in contemporary Vietnamese, though both are understood.