Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Bad, undesirable, of poor character: "bất hảo" describes a person, element, or quality that is morally bad, untrustworthy, or socially undesirable. It implies a lack of virtue or goodness.

Usage

• "Bất hảo" is primarily used as an attributive adjective to describe people, often in formal or journalistic contexts to label individuals or groups considered harmful to society.
• It carries a strong negative connotation and is not typically used in casual, polite conversation to describe someone directly.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cảnh sát đang truy tìm những phần tử bất hảo trong khu vực. (The police are searching for undesirable elements in the area.)
  • Hắn ta nổi tiếng là một kẻ bất hảo, chuyên đi lừa đảo người khác. (He is known as a bad character, specializing in deceiving others.)
  • Những hành vi bất hảo sẽ bị trừng trị nghiêm khắc. (Bad/immoral behaviors will be severely punished.)

Advanced Usage

• "phần tử bất hảo": This is a very common fixed phrase meaning "undesirable element" or "bad element." It is often used in official or security contexts to refer to individuals perceived as threats to social order.
  • Chính quyền quyết tâm bài trừ các phần tử bất hảo ra khỏi cộng đồng. (The authorities are determined to eradicate undesirable elements from the community.)

Variants and Related Words

• Xấu (adj): Bad, ugly. This is a more general and common term for "bad." "Bất hảo" is more specific to moral character.
• Đê tiện (adj): Despicable, mean. Stronger and more focused on low moral character than "bất hảo."
• Vô lại (n/adj): Rogue, rascal. Can be used as a noun or adjective for a mischievous or unprincipled person.

Synonyms

• Xấu xa: Wicked, evil.
• Hư hỏng: Corrupt, depraved (often used for youth).
• Đáng ngờ: Suspicious, dubious.

Related Idioms

• "Con sâu làm rầu nồi canh": Literally "One maggot spoils the soup." This idiom describes how one bad person ("phần tử bất hảo") can ruin a group's reputation, similar to "a bad apple spoils the bunch."
  • Chỉ một phần tử bất hảo trong lớp cũng có thể ảnh hưởng xấu đến các bạn khác, đúng là con sâu làm rầu nồi canh. (Just one undesirable element in the class can negatively affect other students, truly a case of one bad apple spoiling the bunch.)

adj

1. Bad
   • phần tử bất hảo
     a bad egg