Definition

1. Verb:
   • To incite; to urge; to egg on: To strongly encourage or persuade someone to do something, often something unwise or mischievous. It implies instigation or prompting to action.
   • To put someone up to something: To suggest or encourage someone to do something, typically something wrong or foolish.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Ai xui bảo mày làm thế? (Who put you up to doing that?)
  • Nó bị bạn xui bảo nên mới trốn học. (He was egged on by his friend, so he skipped school.)
  • Đừng nghe lời xui bảo của người lạ. (Don't listen to the instigation of strangers.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a negative connotation, implying the action being encouraged is rash, bad, or troublesome. It is frequently used in contexts of blame or questioning responsibility.
• It can be used with the object of the instigation (the person being urged) stated directly.

Variants and Related Words

• Xúi (v): A more common and colloquial shortened form of "xui bảo," with the same meaning of inciting or egging on.
  • Thằng bạn xúi nó hút thuốc. (His friend egged him on to smoke.)

Synonyms

• Incite: To encourage unlawful or violent behavior.
• Instigate: To bring about or initiate (an action or event), often a negative one.
• Egg on: To urge someone to do something, especially something foolish or risky.
• Put up to: To persuade or encourage someone to do something wrong.

Related Idioms

• Xui bảo, xúi dại: A common paired phrase emphasizing the act of giving bad advice or inciting someone to do something foolish.
  • Lớn rồi, đừng nghe xui bảo, xúi dại của ai. (You're grown up now, don't listen to anyone's foolish instigations.)