bẻ bai

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The Vietnamese word "bẻ bai" is a verb that means to find fault with something or to criticize it, often in a petty or nagging way. It can refer to the act of nitpicking or complaining about small issues rather than addressing more significant problems.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "bẻ bai" when you want to describe someone who is overly critical or always looking for something to complain about.
• It is often used in informal contexts or conversations among friends.

Example:

• "Cô ấy thường bẻ bai những gì tôi làm, không bao giờ hài lòng." (She often finds fault with what I do; she's never satisfied.)

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced conversations, "bẻ bai" can be used in discussions about constructive criticism versus destructive criticism. While it can sometimes be beneficial to point out flaws for improvement, "bẻ bai" usually carries a negative connotation, implying that the criticism is excessive or unwarranted.

Word Variants:

• The phrase can be modified to express varying degrees of criticism, such as "bẻ bai một cách thái quá" (to criticize excessively) or "bẻ bai nhỏ nhặt" (to nitpick).

Different Meanings:

While "bẻ bai" mainly refers to criticism, it can sometimes be used more loosely to describe any situation where someone is being overly picky or difficult.

Academic

verb

1. To find fault with, to carp at