Definition

Adjective: - Disloyal, unfaithful in love: Describes a person who is not faithful, lacks commitment, or betrays the trust and affection in a romantic relationship. It implies a breach of emotional loyalty and constancy.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ta là một người chồng bạc tình. (He is a disloyal/unfaithful husband.)
  • Cô ấy cảm thấy đau khổ vì gặp phải người yêu bạc tình. (She feels heartbroken because she met an unfaithful lover.)
  • Đừng trở thành kẻ bạc tình. (Don't become a disloyal/unfaithful person.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ăn ở bạc tình": To live and act in an unfaithful/disloyal manner (in a relationship).
  • Câu chuyện kể về một người đàn ông ăn ở bạc tình với vợ mình. (The story is about a man who is disloyal to his wife.)
• "Trách người quân tử bạc tình" (from a folk song/ca dao): Blaming the gentleman for being unfaithful. This is a classic poetic line illustrating the concept.

Variants and Related Words

• Bạc (adj): Generally means "ungrateful," "mercenary," or "shallow" (e.g., : ungrateful for favors; : unkind, callous). specifically applies to romantic unfaithfulness.
• Phụ bạc (v/phr): To betray, to be ungrateful and disloyal. This is a close synonym but can have a broader application beyond just romance.
  • Hắn đã phụ bạc lòng tin của cô ấy. (He betrayed her trust.)

Synonyms

• Vô tình: Heartless, unfeeling (can be used in a similar context but emphasizes lack of feeling rather than active betrayal).
• Không chung thủy: Not faithful, not loyal.
• Phản bội: To betray (a stronger, more general term for betrayal).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Bạc như vôi": (As) shallow/disloyal as lime (a simile). Lime dissolves easily in water, symbolizing something that is not lasting or faithful.
  • Lời hứa của hắn bạc như vôi. (His promises are as shallow as lime [i.e., easily broken].)
• While itself is not typically part of a phrasal verb, it is a fixed adjective phrase commonly used to directly describe a person's character or actions within the context of love and relationships.

1. Disloyal, unfaithful in love