Definition

1. Verb phrase (informal, often derogatory): * To give birth out of wedlock; to have an illegitimate child. This phrase directly describes the act of a woman giving birth to a child whose parents are not married. It carries a strong negative social judgment. * To be born out of wedlock; to be a bastard. When used to describe the child, it means the child was born to unmarried parents.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase (action):
  • Cô ấy bị gia đình xa lánh vì đẻ hoang. (Her family shunned her because she had a child out of wedlock.)
  • Tin đồn cô ta đẻ hoang lan khắp làng. (The rumor that she gave birth illegitimately spread throughout the village.)
• Describing the child (less common as a direct descriptor):
  • Đứa trẻ bị gọi là con đẻ hoang. (The child was called a bastard.)

Advanced Usage / Nuances

• Strongly Pejorative: The term "đẻ hoang" is considered highly offensive and stigmatizing. It is used to condemn and shame both the mother and the child, reflecting outdated social values.
• Contextual Sensitivity: In modern, formal, or legal contexts, neutral phrases like "sinh con khi chưa kết hôn" (to give birth before marriage) or "con ngoài giá thú" (child born out of wedlock) are preferred to avoid judgment.
• Historical/Literary Use: It may appear in literature, historical accounts, or dialogues to depict characters' attitudes, social stigma, or a specific period's norms.

Variants and Related Words

• Con hoang (n): Bastard, illegitimate child. This is the more common noun form used to label the child.
• Ngoài giá thú (adj phrase): Out of wedlock. A formal, legal, or neutral term. (e.g., - child born out of wedlock).
• Sinh con khi chưa kết hôn (v phrase): To give birth before marriage. A descriptive, non-judgmental phrase.

Synonyms (with register notes)

• Sinh con ngoài ý muốn / ngoài kế hoạch: To have an unplanned child. (Focuses on planning, not marital status).
• Có con mà không kết hôn: To have a child without being married. (A neutral, descriptive phrase).
• Bastard (n, English equivalent): The direct, derogatory English translation.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Mang bầu hoang / Có bầu hoang: To be pregnant out of wedlock. This refers to the state of pregnancy before the birth.
  • Thời đó, một cô gái mang bầu hoang sẽ chịu rất nhiều dị nghị. (In those days, a girl who was pregnant out of wedlock would face a lot of gossip.)

1. Born out of wedlock, bastard