nghịch

Vietnamese

Etymology

    Sino-Vietnamese word from (to oppose). Doublet of ngược.

    Pronunciation

    • (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [ŋïk̟̚˧˨ʔ]
    • (Huế) IPA(key): [ŋɨt̚˨˩ʔ]
    • (Saigon) IPA(key): [ŋɨt̚˨˩˨]

    Adjective

    nghịch

    1. (rare, of a limb) non-dominant
    2. (mathematics, of a relationship between two variables) inversely proportional
      tỉ lệ nghịch vớito be inversely proportional with
    3. (chemistry, of a reaction, or its direction as noted in the equation) "leftward"

    Antonyms

    Verb

    nghịch

    1. (usually of a child) to fiddle or play around with something
      Nó đang ngồi nghịch máy tính.
      She's playing with the computer.
    2. (chiefly Northern Vietnam, usually of a child) to be playfully naughty
      Synonym: quậy
      Thằng cu con em nghịch như giặc.
      My boy is uncontrollable.

    Derived terms