Definition

Adjective: - Ruthless, uncompassionate: Describes a person who is ungrateful, unkind, lacks humaneness, and is prone to harming others. It implies a deep-seated cruelty and a lack of moral conscience.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ta là một kẻ bạc ác, sẵn sàng phản bội bạn bè vì lợi ích cá nhân. (He is a ruthless person, willing to betray friends for personal gain.)
  • Những hành động bạc ác của tên cướp đã khiến mọi người phẫn nộ. (The robber's cruel actions outraged everyone.)
  • Đừng bao giờ trở thành một người bạc ác, vô tâm. (Never become a heartless, uncompassionate person.)

Advanced Usage

• "lòng bạc ác": a cruel/ruthless heart.
  • Hắn ta có một lòng bạc ác, không chút thương xót. (He has a cruel heart, without a shred of mercy.)
• "bản tính bạc ác": a ruthless/unkind nature.
  • Bản tính bạc ác của hắn sớm muộn cũng bị trừng trị. (His ruthless nature will be punished sooner or later.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bạc (adj): Often combined to form words indicating negative moral qualities. It can mean "ungrateful" or "shallow".
  • bạc tình: ungrateful in love, fickle.
  • bạc nghĩa: ungrateful, lacking in gratitude.
• Ác (adj): Evil, wicked, malicious.
  • ác độc: cruel, malicious.
  • hung ác: fierce and evil.
• Bạc ác is a compound adjective where both components reinforce the meaning of moral deficiency and cruelty.

Synonyms

• Độc ác: Cruel, wicked.
• Tàn nhẫn: Merciless, brutal.
• Vô tâm: Heartless, inconsiderate.
• Bất nhân: Inhumane.

Notes on Meaning and Usage

• Connotation: The word bạc ác carries a very strong negative connotation. It is a severe judgment on a person's character, implying they are fundamentally bad, not just momentarily unkind.
• Scope: It typically describes a person's inherent nature or character, not a single action. A single cruel act might be described as "ác" or "tàn nhẫn," but a person is called "bạc ác" when this cruelty is part of their character.
• Formality: This term is used in both literary and formal contexts to describe profound wickedness. It is less common in casual, everyday speech.

adj

1. Ruthless, uncompassionate