Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Wretched, miserable, pitiful: Describes a state of extreme suffering, misfortune, or lowliness in life. It conveys a sense of profound and often pathetic misery.
   • Vile, base, abject: Can describe someone or something considered contemptibly low in character, morals, or social standing.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cuộc sống của họ thật là đớn kiếp. (Their life is truly wretched.)
  • Hắn ta là một kẻ đớn kiếp, không ai thèm để ý tới. (He is a vile/abject fellow, nobody pays any attention to him.)
  • Cảnh tượng đớn kiếp ấy khiến ai nấy đều động lòng thương. (That pitiful scene moved everyone to pity.)

Advanced Usage

• The word đớn kiếp is considered strong and somewhat literary or formal. It is used to emphasize a deep, often pathetic state of misery or moral baseness.
• It can function as an exclamation to express strong pity or contempt: (Oh, how wretched!)

Variants and Related Words

• Đớn đời: A direct synonym with identical meaning (wretched, miserable).
• Khốn khổ: (Adj) Wretched, distressed. Focuses more on hardship and suffering.
• Thảm hại: (Adj) Pitiful, pathetic, miserable. Often describes a situation or outcome that evokes pity or scorn.
• Hèn mạt: (Adj) Mean, base, despicable. Focuses more on low character or cowardice.

Synonyms

• Khốn nạn: Wretched, miserable (can also mean despicable).
• Thê thảm: Miserable, tragic, lamentable.
• Bần cùng: Destitute, impoverished (focuses on material poverty).

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary meaning relates to a state of extreme misery and suffering (wretched, pitiful).
• A secondary, related meaning describes a person of vile or contemptible character (base, abject). The context usually makes the intended meaning clear.

1. như đớn đời