ép xác

Definition

Verb (Colloquial):
- To mortify oneself: To subject one's body to severe hardship, deprivation, or ascetic discipline, often for a specific purpose such as saving money, achieving a goal, or out of necessity.
- To force oneself to endure hardship: To push oneself to live or work under extremely difficult, strenuous, or frugal conditions, typically beyond normal limits.

Usage Examples

Verb:
- Anh ấy ép xác đi làm thêm hai công việc để trả nợ. (He mortifies himself by working two extra jobs to pay off debt.)
- Chúng tôi phải ép xác ăn mì tôm cả tháng để dành tiền mua nhà. (We had to force ourselves to endure hardship, eating instant noodles for a month to save money for a house.)
- Đừng có ép xác làm việc liên tục 48 giờ như thế, nguy hiểm lắm. (Don't mortify yourself by working for 48 hours straight like that; it's very dangerous.)

Advanced Usage

The phrase often implies a temporary but intense period of self-imposed suffering for a future benefit, such as financial savings or a major goal. It carries a tone of both criticism for the extreme action and sometimes grudging admiration for the perseverance.

Variants and Related Words

Ép bản thân (v): To force oneself (a more general, less intense term than "ép xác").
- Cô ấy ép bản thân học hết chương trình. (She forces herself to study the entire program.)

Synonyms

To overexert oneself: To push one's body or mind too hard.
To live austerely: To live in a severely simple and strict way, avoiding comfort.
To drive oneself hard: To work or push oneself with great effort.

Related Idioms

Đầu tắt mặt tối: To be extremely busy from morning till night.
- Ép xác làm việc kiểu đầu tắt mặt tối cuối cùng cũng kiệt sức. (Mortifying yourself with backbreaking work from dawn till dusk will eventually lead to exhaustion.)
Ăn đói mặc rách: To endure hunger and wear tattered clothes (to live in extreme poverty).
- Họ ép xác, ăn đói mặc rách để cho con ăn học. (They mortify themselves, enduring hunger and ragged clothes so their children can get an education.)