Definition

1. Noun:

   • A great villain; an arch-scoundrel: Refers to a person who is extremely dishonest, wicked, and unscrupulous. This term denotes the highest degree of deceit and malicious intent.

2. Adjective (attributive):

   • Extremely wicked and deceitful: Describes a person, action, or nature characterized by profound dishonesty and evil.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Hắn ta thực sự là một tên đại gian ác. (He is truly a great villain.)
  • Lịch sử ghi lại nhiều đại gian ác. (History records many arch-scoundrels.)

• Adjective:

  • Âm mưu đại gian ác đó đã bị bại lộ. (That extremely wicked plot was exposed.)
  • Bộ mặt đại gian ác của hắn khiến mọi người khiếp sợ. (His extremely deceitful and evil face frightened everyone.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in formal, literary, or historical contexts to describe figures of notorious evil and treachery, emphasizing the scale and impact of their wrongdoing.

Variants and Related Words

• Đại gian (n/adj): Arch-traitor; supremely treacherous. A closely related term with a strong emphasis on betrayal and deceit.
  • Tên phản bội đó là một đại gian. (That traitor is an arch-traitor.)

Synonyms

• Arch-villain: A principal or chief villain.
• Utterly unscrupulous: Completely without moral principles.
• Treacherous: Guilty of or involving betrayal or deception.

Related Idioms

• While "đại gian ác" itself is a strong, standalone term, it relates to concepts of ultimate betrayal and evil often found in proverbs about hypocrisy, such as "Mặt người dạ thú" (A human face but a beast's heart).

1. như đại gian