Definition

1. Verb:
   • To humiliate, to cause someone to lose face: "bẻ mặt" means to cause someone to feel ashamed, embarrassed, or to lose dignity in front of others. It implies a direct and often public act of shaming.

Usage

• The verb "bẻ mặt" is used to describe an action that intentionally or unintentionally makes someone lose prestige or feel ashamed. It is often used in contexts involving social interaction, criticism, or confrontation.
• It is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (the person being humiliated).

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy đã bẻ mặt tôi trước đám đông. (He humiliated me in front of the crowd.)
  • Đừng bẻ mặt người khác như vậy, nó rất tổn thương. (Don't humiliate others like that; it's very hurtful.)
  • Câu nói của cô ấy bẻ mặt cả đội đối thủ. (Her statement humiliated the entire opposing team.)

Advanced Usage

• "bẻ mặt" vs. "làm mất mặt": While both can mean "to cause loss of face," "bẻ mặt" often implies a more active, direct, and sometimes confrontational act of shaming. "Làm mất mặt" can be broader, sometimes including indirect causes of embarrassment.
  • Phê bình trực tiếp như thế là bẻ mặt anh ta. (Criticizing him directly like that is to humiliate him.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bẽ (Verb): To feel ashamed, to be embarrassed. This is the state experienced by the target of "bẻ mặt."
  • Anh ta cảm thấy rất bẽ vì bị phát hiện nói dối. (He felt very ashamed for being caught lying.)
• Bẽ mặt (Verb): This is a variant form with the same core meaning as "bẻ mặt," emphasizing the resulting state of shame on the face of the person.
  • Cô ấy bẽ mặt không dám nhìn ai. (She was too ashamed to look at anyone.)
• Mất mặt (Verb): To lose face.
  • Sai lầm đó khiến ông ấy mất mặt với đồng nghiệp. (That mistake made him lose face with his colleagues.)

Synonyms

• Làm nhục: To disgrace, to dishonor (often stronger in tone).
• Sỉ nhục: To insult, to affront (emphasizes verbal insult).
• Làm cho xấu hổ: To make someone embarrassed.

Related Idioms

• Bẻ mặt chỉ tên: To humiliate someone by naming them directly. This idiom emphasizes the public and pointed nature of the shaming.
  • Ông chủ bẻ mặt chỉ tên nhân viên vi phạm trong cuộc họp. (The boss humiliated the violating employee by naming them directly in the meeting.)

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