Definition

Adjective: * Excessively considerate or deferential; overly compliant to avoid displeasing others: Describes a personality trait or behavior of being too easily swayed by respect, politeness, or fear of causing offense, often leading to a reluctance to refuse requests, express disagreement, or take necessary action.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy có tính cả nể, nên ai nhờ gì cũng giúp. (He has a compliant nature, so he helps anyone who asks.)
  • Đừng cả nể quá mà nhận lời làm việc ngoài khả năng. (Don't be overly deferential and agree to do work beyond your capacity.)
  • Vì cả nể đồng nghiệp cũ, cô ấy không dám phê bình trực tiếp. (Out of excessive consideration for her old colleague, she didn't dare to criticize directly.)

Advanced Usage

• "tính cả nể": a compliant/disposed-to-please character.
  • Chính tính cả nể của anh ta khiến mọi việc trở nên phức tạp. (It is his disposed-to-please character that complicates everything.)
• "vì cả nể": due to being overly considerate/deferential.
  • Vì cả nể, tôi đã không nói ra sự thật. (Out of excessive deference, I did not tell the truth.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nể (v): to respect, to hold in regard. This is the root verb implying respect that is taken to an extreme in "cả nể".
  • Tôi rất nể cô giáo đó. (I deeply respect that teacher.)
• Nể nang (v/n): to show consideration/respect; consideration. Often used similarly to "cả nể" but can be slightly less intense.
  • Có chút nể nang nên anh ta không từ chối. (Out of some consideration, he did not refuse.)

Synonyms

• Dễ dãi: lenient, easy-going (often implies low standards).
• Chiều lòng: to indulge, to humor someone (focuses on the act of pleasing).
• Nhu nhược: weak-willed, spineless (stronger, more negative connotation of weakness).

Related Idioms

• "Cả vú lấp miệng em": Literally "using the whole breast to cover the child's mouth". Means to use one's seniority/authority to suppress others' opinions. This idiom is related in the context of social pressure and not speaking up, which a person who is "cả nể" might succumb to.
• "Một điều nhịn, chín điều lành": Literally "one act of forbearance, nine acts of good". Encourages patience and tolerance, a philosophy someone who is "cả nể" might follow excessively.

1. Complaisant, compliant