tay chơi
[taj˧˧ t͡ɕəːj˧˧]word by word
The English phrase "playboy" is translated into Vietnamese as tay chơi.
tay chơi is used to describe a man who is a socialite or a womanizer. Depending on the context, the term can be used neutrally to describe someone who enjoys social life and pejoratively to describe a womanizer.
Meaning: man who devotes himself to pleasure (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
In this compound noun, tay acts as a classifier or prefix to denote a person characterized by a specific action.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
tay chơi is a colloquial term.
Did you know?
- While tay chơi can be a 'playboy', it is also used to describe a 'high roller' or someone who spends lavishly on luxury goods and expensive hobbies.
- In Vietnamese, the classifier tay is used for several 'types' of people, such as tay súng for a gunman or tay đua for a racer.
- The component chơi is related to the Muong word chơl, which means 'to be glad' or 'jubilant'.
Examples in context
- Anh ta là một tay chơi chính hiệu.He is a real playboy.
- Đừng tin anh ta, anh ta là tay chơi đấy.Don't trust him, he is a playboy.
- Làm tay chơi thì không thể có gia đình hạnh phúc.Being a playboy means you cannot have a happy family.
Example conversation
Hương is warning Nam about a guy he just met at a party.
- HươngNam, đừng có yêu anh chàng đó nhé.Nam, don't fall for that guy.
- NamTại sao vậy Hương?Why is that, Hương?
- HươngAnh ta là một tay chơi nổi tiếng đấy.He is a famous playboy.
- NamThật sao? Tôi phải cẩn thận mới được.Really? I should be careful.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (tay, chơi) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chơi, tay, CC BY-SA 4.0.
