Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Having a poor fate; unfortunate; ill-fated: "Bạc mệnh" describes a person whose life is marked by misfortune, hardship, or a tragic destiny.
   • Short-lived; ephemeral: It can also imply a fragile, transient, or precarious existence.

2. Noun:

   • A poor/unhappy fate; a tragic destiny: Refers to the concept or state of having a miserable lot in life.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Nàng là một người con gái bạc mệnh. (She is a woman with an unhappy fate.)
  • Cuộc đời bạc mệnh của nhân vật chính khiến độc giả thương cảm. (The ill-fated life of the main character makes readers feel pity.)

• Noun:

  • "Bạc mệnh" là chủ đề xuyên suốt tác phẩm. ("Poor fate" is the recurring theme of the literary work.)
  • Số phận ấy quả thực là một kiếp bạc mệnh. (That destiny is truly a life of misfortune.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is deeply rooted in classical Vietnamese literature and philosophy, often used to describe tragic heroines or poetic sentiments about the fragility and suffering of human life.
• It is considered a literary and somewhat archaic term, commonly found in poetry, classical novels (like ), and formal writing rather than everyday conversation.

Variants and Related Words

• Bạc bẽo (adj): Ungrateful, unfaithful, unkind (often describing human relationships or treatment).
• Bạc phận (adj/n): Similar to "bạc mệnh," meaning having a poor lot or unfortunate status in life.
• Hồng nhan bạc mệnh (idiom): A beautiful woman with a tragic fate; a classic literary trope.

Synonyms

• Đen đủi: Unlucky, ill-fated.
• Khốn khổ: Wretched, miserable.
• Đoản mệnh: Short-lived (specifically refers to a short lifespan).

Related Idioms

• Hồng nhan bạc mệnh: Literally "rosy cheeks, poor fate." This idiom encapsulates the traditional belief that beautiful women are often destined for tragic lives.
  • Trong văn học cổ, nhân vật chính thường mang số phận hồng nhan bạc mệnh. (In classical literature, the main female character often has the fate of a beauty doomed to misfortune.)

1. (cũ) Poor fate; unhappy hot