chiên ghẻ

Vietnamese

Etymology

chiên (“lamb; young sheep”) +‎ ghẻ (“scabies, scab, scabby; mange, mangy”); calque of French brebis galeuse.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕiən˧˧ ɣɛ˧˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕiəŋ˧˧ ɣɛ˧˨]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [ciəŋ˧˧ ɣɛ˨˩˦]

Noun

(classifier con) chiên ghẻ

1. (idiomatic) a group's member who adversely influences on other members and besmirches a group's reputation; a bad apple

See also

• con sâu làm rầu nồi canh