Quăng thoi
Definition
- Idiom (Thành ngữ):
- To be swayed by repeated rumors; to have one's faith shaken by persistent gossip: This idiom describes the psychological effect where a person's initial strong belief or trust is gradually eroded due to hearing the same negative report or rumor multiple times, eventually causing them to doubt and change their stance or action.
Etymology and Origin
- The idiom originates from a famous Chinese story about Zeng Shen (Tăng Sâm), a disciple of Confucius known for his great virtue. A man with the same name committed murder. When the first and second people came to tell Zeng Shen's mother that her son had killed someone, she remained calm and continued weaving, confident her son was incapable of such an act. However, when a third person brought the same news, her faith was finally shaken. She "quăng thoi" (threw down her shuttle) and stood up in alarm and doubt.
Usage Examples
- Idiom:
- Dù tin tưởng bạn ấy, nhưng sau nhiều lời đồn đoán, cuối cùng cô ấy cũng quăng thoi. (Even though she trusted him, after much gossip, she finally had her faith shaken.)
- Sự trung thành của anh ta rất vững, khó có thể khiến anh ta quăng thoi. (His loyalty is very firm; it's difficult to make him waver.)
Advanced Usage
- The idiom is used in formal or literary contexts to comment on the power of public opinion or persistent rumor. It emphasizes a change from firm belief to doubt due to external psychological pressure, not due to new evidence.
Synonyms
- To have one's faith shaken: To begin to doubt a previously held belief.
- To be swayed by rumors: To change one's opinion because of gossip.
- To succumb to doubt: To finally give in to uncertainty.
Related Concepts
- Hiệu ứng dư luận (The bandwagon effect): A social psychology concept where people do something primarily because others are doing it.
- Lời đồn đại (Rumor/gossip): Unverified information spread from person to person.
Note
- "Quăng thoi" is a classical idiom. In modern spoken Vietnamese, simpler phrases like "bị dao động vì tin đồn" (to be swayed by rumors) or "nghi ngờ" (to doubt) are more common. This idiom is primarily used in writing or formal speech to add cultural and historical depth.