Mất búa đổ ngờ
Definition
- Idiom:
- To suspect groundlessly / to harbor baseless suspicions: This idiom describes the act of wrongly suspecting an innocent person, often due to one's own preconceptions or biases. The suspicion persists only until the real facts are discovered, at which point the person's behavior no longer seems suspicious.
Origin and Background
- Classical Source: The idiom originates from a story in the ancient Chinese text . A man lost his axe and suspected his neighbor's son of stealing it. Thereafter, everything about the boy—his walk, his speech, his manner—seemed to be that of a thief. Later, the man found his axe. The next day, observing the neighbor's son again, he saw nothing in the boy's behavior that suggested he was a thief.
Usage Examples
- Idiom:
- Anh ta mất ví và ngay lập tức mất búa đổ ngờ cho đồng nghiệp mới. (He lost his wallet and immediately, with groundless suspicion, blamed his new colleague.)
- Đừng có mất búa đổ ngờ, có thể chính bạn đã để quên chìa khóa ở đâu đó. (Don't suspect groundlessly; you might have left your keys somewhere yourself.)
Advanced Usage
- This idiom is used to critique irrational or prejudiced thinking. It highlights how confirmation bias can make innocent actions appear guilty when one is already convinced of a person's fault.
Synonyms
- To jump to conclusions: To form a judgment hastily without sufficient evidence.
- To be prejudiced: To have a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.
- To wrongfully accuse: To blame someone for something they did not do.
Related Concepts
- Thành kiến (Prejudice): A preconceived opinion not based on actual experience.
- Định kiến (Stereotype/Bias): A fixed, oversimplified idea about a particular group or thing.