Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Ignominious, shameful, disgraceful: Describes an action, behavior, or situation that is morally low, dishonorable, and brings great shame or public disgrace.
   • Base, vile, contemptible: Describes something or someone considered to be of very low moral character, deserving of scorn.

Usage

• As an adjective: Typically used to modify nouns referring to actions, behaviors, or characteristics.
  • Hành vi đê nhục đó không thể tha thứ. (That ignominious behavior is unforgivable.)
  • Hắn đã phạm phải một tội ác đê nhục. (He committed a vile crime.)
• Describing a state or condition:
  • Sống trong cảnh đê nhục. (To live in a state of disgrace/ignominy.)

Advanced Usage

• Used in formal or literary contexts: The word carries strong negative connotation and is often found in formal condemnations, historical texts, or literature to describe profound moral failure.
  • Một vết nhơ đê nhục trong lịch sử. (An ignominious stain on history.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đê tiện (adj): Mean, base, despicable. Often used interchangeably with but can sometimes imply pettiness or lowliness in character rather than public shame.
• Nhục nhã (adj): Humiliating, shameful. Focuses more on the feeling or state of humiliation.
• Ô nhục (adj): Disgraceful, dishonorable. Similar in meaning, often used in compound words like (national disgrace).

Synonyms

• Hèn hạ: Base, cowardly.
• Thấp hèn: Lowly, vile.
• Đáng khinh: Despicable, contemptible.

Related Idioms

• Làm điều đê nhục: To do a shameful/degrading deed.
  • Hắn đã làm điều đê nhục với chính ân nhân của mình. (He did a shameful deed to his very own benefactor.)

1. Ignominous deed