Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Of easy virtue, promiscuous, wanton: Describes a person, typically a woman, who engages in casual or numerous sexual relationships, considered immoral or lacking in sexual restraint according to traditional social norms.
   • Lewd, licentious: Pertaining to or characterized by overt and offensive sexual desire or behavior.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cô ấy bị mọi người trong làng xa lánh vì có tiếng là đàng điếm. (She was shunned by everyone in the village for having a reputation of being of easy virtue.)
  • Những lời nói đàng điếm của hắn khiến mọi người phẫn nộ. (His lewd remarks outraged everyone.)
  • Trong xã hội phong kiến, người phụ nữ bị coi là đàng điếm sẽ bị trừng phạt rất nặng. (In feudal society, a woman considered wanton would be severely punished.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is archaic, highly pejorative, and carries strong moral condemnation. Its use in modern Vietnamese is rare and considered extremely offensive and sexist. It reflects outdated, patriarchal values.
• Historically, it was used almost exclusively to describe women's sexual behavior, reinforcing double standards.

Variants and Related Words

• Điếm (n): This is the root word, historically meaning a prostitute or a brothel. The compound "đàng điếm" intensifies the meaning.
• Điếm đàng (adj): A less common variant with the same meaning as "đàng điếm".
• Trăng hoa (adj): A more modern, slightly less harsh synonym meaning philandering or promiscuous, but it can be applied to men and is not exclusively derogatory.
• Lẳng lơ (adj): Flirtatious, coquettish; implies loose morals but is less severe than "đàng điếm".

Synonyms

• Lẳng lơ: Flirtatious, coquettish.
• Trăng hoa: Philandering, promiscuous.
• Dâm đãng: Lewd, lascivious, lustful (strong, general term for lewdness).

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Ăn chơi đàng điếm: To lead a debauched/wanton life of pleasure and promiscuity.
  • Hắn ta sa vào con đường ăn chơi đàng điếm và phá tan gia sản. (He fell into a debauched life of pleasure and squandered the family fortune.)
• Đàng điếm lẳng lơ: A reinforcing phrase meaning extremely wanton and flirtatious.

1. Of easy virtue, light, wanton