Tài mệnh ghét nhau

Definition

Idiom (Thành ngữ):
- "Talent and fate are at odds": A classical Vietnamese idiom expressing the belief that exceptional talent and personal fortune are often mutually exclusive. It conveys the idea that a person of great ability frequently suffers an unfortunate or tragic destiny.
- "Genius is often dogged by misfortune": A philosophical observation on the perceived conflict between a person's gifts and their life's fortune, suggesting that great talent can attract hardship.

Usage Examples

Idiom:
- Nhìn vào cuộc đời bi kịch của nhiều nghệ sĩ thiên tài, người ta lại thấm thía câu "tài mệnh ghét nhau". (Looking at the tragic lives of many artistic geniuses, one deeply understands the saying "talent and fate are at odds.")
- Ông ấy có trí tuệ hơn người nhưng cuộc sống lại đầy khổ đau, đúng là "tài mệnh ghét nhau". (He possessed extraordinary intellect but his life was full of suffering, a true case of "genius being dogged by misfortune.")

Advanced Usage

This idiom is deeply rooted in classical Sino-Vietnamese literature and philosophy. It is often used in reflective or lamenting contexts to comment on historical figures, artists, or personal observations about the unfairness of life.
It serves as a concise cultural explanation for tragedy, often absolving societal or structural causes and attributing suffering to an almost cosmic conflict.

Variants and Related Expressions

"Chữ tài chữ mệnh khéo là ghét nhau": A famous line from the epic poem by Nguyễn Du, which is the most direct and celebrated literary source of this concept. It translates as "The words 'talent' and 'fate' are so adept at hating each other."

Synonyms

Related Concepts

Tragic hero: A character in literature who is doomed to downfall, often due to a personal flaw or fate.
Poetic injustice: The unfair suffering of those who are gifted or virtuous.
Fatal gift: A talent or ability that brings misfortune to its possessor.