Definition

1. Noun:
   • Malice, ill will: The intention or desire to cause harm, injury, or distress to someone else. It implies a deliberate, wrongful purpose behind an action or statement.
   • Bad faith: A state of mind characterized by dishonesty, deception, or an intent to deceive or act unfairly toward another.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Câu nói đùa của nó không có ác ý gì đâu. (There is no malice in his joke; no offense is meant.)
  • Hành động đó rõ ràng là xuất phát từ ác ý. (That action clearly stems from ill will.)
  • Tôi tin anh ấy không làm điều đó với ác ý. (I believe he did not do that with malicious intent.)

Advanced Usage

• Legal/Formal Context: In legal or formal discourse, "ác ý" can translate to "malice aforethought" or "malicious intent," indicating a premeditated intention to commit a wrongful act.
  • Bị cáo bị buộc tội với bằng chứng về ác ý. (The defendant was charged with evidence of malicious intent.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ác tâm (n): A closely related synonym meaning "evil heart" or "malicious mind," often used interchangeably with "ác ý" but can imply a deeper, more ingrained malevolence.
• Cố ý (adj/phrase): "Deliberate" or "intentional." While "cố ý" means doing something on purpose, it does not necessarily carry the negative, harmful connotation of "ác ý."

Synonyms

• Malice: The desire to harm someone.
• Ill will: Unfriendly or hostile feelings.
• Malignity: Extreme ill will or a desire to cause severe harm.
• Spite: A desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone.
• Bad faith: Intent to deceive or be dishonest.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Với ác ý: With malicious intent.
  • Anh ta hành động với ác ý rõ ràng. (He acted with clear malicious intent.)
• Không chút ác ý: Without any malice.
  • Lời phê bình của cô ấy hoàn toàn không chút ác ý. (Her criticism was completely without any malice.)

noun

1. Malice, malignity, ill will
   • câu nói đùa của nó không có ác ý gì đâu
     there is no malice in his joke, no offence is meant in his joke