Idiom 5 of 6 • Level 3
Tiếng kêu khóc ai
Crying sounds to whom?
Who will listen to your complaints? Used when complaining is futile because no one cares or can help.
Quick Analysis
⚊ Literal Meaning
tiếng (sound) + kêu (cry out) + khóc (cry/weep) + ai (who) = "Crying sounds for whom to hear?" Often shortened to just "khóc ai" in speech.
⚏ Affect
The emotional tone is resignation, sometimes bitter. It can be self-pitying or philosophical — accepting that some suffering has no audience, no remedy.
💬 Usage
Bịظلم mà tiếng kêu khóc ai, không ai nghe.
→ Wronged but no one will listen — crying to deaf ears.
Khóc ai bây giờ, chấp nhận thôi.
→ Who would listen now? Just accept it.