Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Bitter and acrid: Describes a taste that is intensely bitter and pungently sharp, often unpleasantly so.
   • Bitter and painful: Describes emotional experiences that are deeply painful, sorrowful, or full of hardship and resentment.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Taste):
  • Vị thuốc này rất đắng cay. (The taste of this medicine is very bitter and acrid.)
• Adjective (Emotion):
  • Anh ấy trải qua một kinh nghiệm đắng cay. (He went through a bitter and painful experience.)
  • Lời từ chối thật đắng cay. (The rejection was truly bitter.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a figurative sense to describe life's hardships, betrayals, or profound disappointments that leave a lingering sense of pain.
  • Sự phản bội để lại cho cô một cảm giác đắng cay. (The betrayal left her with a bitter feeling.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cay đắng: This is a common variant with the same meaning and usage as "đắng cay". The order of the words can be interchangeable.
  • Sự thật cay đắng. (A bitter truth.)

Synonyms

• Bitter: Having a sharp, unpleasant taste; or feeling angry, hurt, or resentful.
• Painful: Causing emotional distress.
• Acrid: Unpleasantly bitter or pungent (for taste/smell).

Related Idioms

• Ngậm đắng nuốt cay: To swallow a bitter pill; to endure hardship, humiliation, or bitterness in silence without complaint.
  • Bà ấy đã ngậm đắng nuốt cay để nuôi các con. (She swallowed the bitter pill to raise her children.)

1. như cay đắng
   • Ngậm đắng nuốt cay
     To swallow a bitter pill