Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Dubious; shady; not clear or transparent: Describes something that is morally questionable, suspicious, or lacking in clarity and honesty. It often implies a lack of integrity or straightforwardness.
   • Of doubtful honesty or legality: Used to characterize actions, relationships, or backgrounds that are suspect or not above board.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Quan hệ bất minh. (A dubious relationship.)
  • Lai lịch của anh ta có nhiều chỗ bất minh. (His origin has many shady points in it.)
  • Vụ giao dịch đó rất bất minh. (That transaction is very shady.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in formal or serious contexts to criticize corruption, lack of transparency in governance, or unethical personal conduct.
  • Các thủ tục bất minh đã bị phơi bày. (The shady procedures were exposed.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thiếu minh bạch (adj): Lacking transparency. This is a near-synonymous phrase often used in official or bureaucratic language.
  • Một quy trình thiếu minh bạch. (A non-transparent process.)

Synonyms

• Shady: Of dubious honesty or legality.
• Dubious: Hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon.
• Questionable: Doubtful as regards truth or quality.
• Suspect: Not to be trusted or relied upon.

Related Idioms

• While "bất minh" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is conceptually related to phrases discussing corruption and secrecy.
  • Âm mưu đen tối: A dark/secret plot. This conveys a similar sense of hidden, unethical activity.

1. Dubious, shady
   • quan hệ bất minh
     a dubious relationship
   • lai lịch của anh ta có nhiều chỗ bất minh
     his origin has many shady points in it