Definition

Noun: * Confidant, someone to confide in: A person to whom one can tell one's private thoughts, feelings, and secrets, trusting they will listen and keep them private. It implies a close, trusted relationship. * A listening ear, a sympathetic ear: Refers to the role or function of being a patient and understanding listener for someone who needs to share their burdens.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cô ấy là bầu tâm sự đáng tin cậy nhất của tôi. (She is my most trusted confidant.)
  • Anh ấy không có ai làm bầu tâm sự cả. (He doesn't have anyone to be his confidant / to confide in.)
  • Đôi khi tôi chỉ cần một bầu tâm sự để lắng nghe. (Sometimes I just need a sympathetic ear to listen.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase "dốc bầu tâm sự" (literally: to pour out one's confidant) is a common idiom meaning "to pour one's heart out", "to confide everything", or "to unburden oneself". It describes the act of telling all your secrets and worries to your trusted person.
  • Cuối cùng cô ấy cũng dốc bầu tâm sự với tôi. (She finally poured her heart out to me.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tâm sự (verb/noun): To confide; a confidence/private talk. This is the core verb from which the noun phrase is built.
• Người bạn tâm giao (noun phrase): A close, intimate friend (similar meaning, more literary).
• Chỗ dựa tinh thần (noun phrase): Emotional support, a pillar of support.

Synonyms

• Confidant(e): A person entrusted with secrets.
• A shoulder to cry on: Someone who provides sympathy.
• A listening ear: Someone who listens attentively.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Dốc bầu tâm sự: As explained in 'Advanced Usage', this is the primary idiom associated with the word. It means to pour one's heart out, to unburden oneself, to confide everything.
  • Sau nhiều năm, anh ấy mới dốc bầu tâm sự về nỗi đau đó. (After many years, he finally unburdened himself about that pain.)

noun

1. Heart
   • dốc bầu tâm sự
     to open one's heart