Definition

1. Verb Phrase:
   • To resign oneself to one's fate; to accept one's lot in life: To consciously and often reluctantly accept a situation, typically one perceived as less than ideal or unchangeable, and stop struggling against it. It implies a quiet, sometimes sorrowful, acceptance of circumstances.

Usage Examples

• Verb Phrase:
  • Sau nhiều năm cố gắng vô vọng, cuối cùng cô ấy cũng đành phận. (After many years of futile effort, she finally resigned herself to her fate.)
  • Sống trong cảnh nghèo khó, ông ấy đã đành phận từ lâu. (Living in poverty, he had long been content with his lot.)
  • Không thể thay đổi được quyết định, anh đành phận chấp nhận. (Unable to change the decision, he had to accept it.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often carries a tone of melancholy, wisdom, or stoicism. It is not simply "accepting" something neutrally, but doing so with a sense that one's destiny or social position is fixed.
• It can be used reflexively to describe a state of being: (to become resigned).

Variants and Related Words

• Cam phận (verb phrase): To accept one's lot; similar in meaning but can sometimes imply a more passive or submissive acceptance.
• An phận (verb phrase): To be content with one's lot; emphasizes contentment and not seeking more, with a less sorrowful connotation than .

Synonyms

• Resign oneself: To accept something undesirable as inevitable.
• Reconcile oneself to: To cause to accept something unpleasant.
• Accept one's lot: To acknowledge one's situation, especially fate, without complaint.

Related Idioms

• Đành phận thủ thường: To be resigned to one's regular, humble station.
  • Ông lão đành phận thủ thường với mảnh vườn nhỏ. (The old man was resigned to his simple, regular life with his small garden.)
• Biết thân biết phận: To know one's place; to be aware of one's social standing or limitations (often used as advice preceding or following the act of ).
  • Hãy biết thân biết phận mà đành phận đi. (You should know your place and accept your lot.)

1. Resign oneself to one's fate; be content with one's lot