Definition

1. Verb phrase:

   • To beat one's chest: The literal action of striking one's own chest with a fist, often as a physical expression of extreme emotion.
   • To express profound remorse or grief: To perform the act of beating one's chest as a ritualistic or dramatic gesture to show deep regret, sorrow, or penitence.

2. Verb phrase (figurative):

   • To profess guilt or blame oneself vehemently: To declare one's own fault or responsibility in an exaggerated, self-accusatory manner, often for show or effect.

Usage Examples

• Literal action:
  • Trong cơn đau khổ, ông ấy đấm ngực thình thịch. (In his anguish, he beat his chest loudly.)
• Expressing remorse:
  • Hắn đấm ngực thề rằng sẽ không bao giờ phạm lỗi nữa. (He beat his chest and swore he would never make the mistake again.)
• Figurative self-blame:
  • Đừng có đấm ngực ăn năn trước mặt tôi nữa. (Stop with the showy penitence and beating your chest in front of me.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used to describe a performative or insincere display of regret, implying the remorse is for public view rather than genuine.
  • Lời xin lỗi của anh ta chỉ là đấm ngực tự thú cho đỡ xấu hổ. (His apology was just a chest-beating confession to save face.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tự đấm ngực (verb phrase): to beat one's own chest; emphasizes the self-directed action.
  • Anh ta tự đấm ngực vì hối hận. (He beat his own chest in remorse.)

Synonyms

• To lament: To express grief or regret.
• To bewail: To express great sorrow or disappointment.
• To mea culpa: To acknowledge one's fault (from Latin, used in English).

Related Idioms

• Đấm ngực bảo không có tội: To beat one's chest while claiming innocence; to protest one's innocence vehemently.
  • Hành động của hắn giống như đấm ngực bảo không có tội. (His action was like beating his chest while claiming innocence.)