chỉ tay năm ngón

[t͡ɕi˧˩ taj˧˧ nam˧˧ ŋɔn˧˦]

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Also seen as: chỏ tay năm ngón

Sense 1

Meaning · English

(verb) to point with all five fingers

Connotation: offensive or derogatory to many

Where it’s used: Used Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Sources & notes

Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗

Sense 2

Meaning · English

(verb) to conceitedly point the finger at people, especially to tell them what to do

Connotation: offensive or derogatory to many

Examples

Có giỏi thì xắn tay làm, đừng có đứng đó chỉ tay năm ngón !Get working if you think you're so good, don't just stand there lecturing!

Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Equivalents & related

Common questions

What does “chỉ tay năm ngón” mean?

(verb) to point with all five fingers

Is “chỉ tay năm ngón” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

What is the closest equivalent?

“point the finger at” (English) — near equivalent.