Definition

1. Adverbial phrase:
   • Deserving of punishment; getting one's just deserts: Used to state that a negative consequence or punishment is appropriate and proportionate to a wrong action or offense committed.
   • To tell the truth; actually; in fact: Used as a discourse marker to introduce a mitigating statement, a correction, or to soften a preceding critical remark, often translated as "to be fair," "actually," or "come to think of it."

Usage Examples

• Meaning 1 (Deserving punishment):
  • Hắn lừa đảo nhiều người, giờ vào tù là đáng tội. (He deceived many people; going to prison now is what he deserves.)
  • Đứa bé hư đánh em, bị mẹ phạt đứng góc nhà là đáng tội. (The naughty child hit his sibling; being made to stand in the corner by his mother is a fitting punishment.)
• Meaning 2 (To tell the truth / to be fair):
  • Cô ấy làm việc hơi chậm, nhưng đáng tội cô ấy rất cẩn thận. (She works a bit slowly, but to be fair, she is very careful.)
  • Cái máy tính này cũ rồi. Đáng tội, nó vẫn chạy tốt. (This computer is old. Actually, it still runs well.)

Advanced Usage

• "Của đáng tội": This is a fixed phrase primarily used with the second meaning (to tell the truth). It often expresses pity, sympathy, or serves to correct an impression.
  • Nó nghịch ngợm thật, nhưng của đáng tội nó còn nhỏ. (He is really mischievous, but then again, he is still young.)
  • Tôi định trách anh ấy, nhưng của đáng tội anh ấy cũng đã cố gắng hết sức. (I intended to blame him, but come to think of it, he did try his best.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đáng đời (idiom): Serves one right; gets what one deserves. This is a stronger, more colloquial synonym for the first meaning of "đáng tội," often expressing schadenfreude.
  • Hắn hay bắt nạt người khác, giờ bị đuổi việc thật đáng đời. (He often bullied others; now getting fired serves him right.)
• Thật ra / Thực ra (adverb): In reality; actually. A synonym for the second meaning of "đáng tội" when used as a discourse marker.
• Xứng đáng (adjective): Deserving (usually of positive things like reward, praise). Contrasts with "đáng tội" which is for negative deserts.

Synonyms

• Meaning 1: Phải tội, đáng bị (deserving of).
• Meaning 2: Thật ra, thực tình mà nói, công bằng mà nói (to tell the truth, frankly speaking, to be fair).

Related Idioms

• Ăn cây nào rào cây ấy (proverb): To be loyal to one's benefactor. While not a direct synonym, it shares the conceptual field of appropriate consequence (positive) for action.
• Gieo gió gặt bão (proverb): To sow the wind and reap the whirlwind; you reap what you sow. This is a proverbial expression closely related to the first meaning of "đáng tội."

1. Proportional to one's offence
   • Bọn chúng chết là đáng tội
     Their death was only propotional to their offences