đua chen
Definition
- Verb:
- To compete fiercely; to scramble; to jostle: To engage in intense, often undignified, struggle or rivalry with others to gain an advantage, position, or resource. It implies a crowded, stressful, and sometimes ruthless environment.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Trong thị trường việc làm khó khăn, mọi người phải đua chen khốc liệt. (In the tough job market, people have to compete fiercely.)
- Anh ta không thích đua chen chốn thành thị. (He does not like the scramble of city life.)
- Họ đua chen để mua được vé xem buổi hòa nhạc. (They jostled to buy tickets for the concert.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a negative connotation, criticizing a stressful, overly competitive, or chaotic social atmosphere where individuals push against each other.
- Môi trường đua chen đó khiến cô ấy kiệt sức. (That fiercely competitive environment exhausted her.)
Variants and Related Words
- Cạnh tranh (v): to compete. This is a more neutral and formal term for competition.
- Tranh giành (v): to struggle for, to contend for. Emphasizes the act of fighting or disputing over something specific.
Synonyms
- To scramble: To struggle or compete with others for something in a hurried, chaotic manner.
- To jostle: To compete for an advantage in a pushing, crowded way.
- To vie: To compete eagerly with others to achieve something.
Related Idioms
- Đua chen danh lợi: To scramble for fame and gain.
- Anh ấy rời bỏ chốn đua chen danh lợi. (He left behind the scramble for fame and gain.)
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Vie hard
