coi nhẹ
Definition
- Verb:
- To make light of: To treat something as unimportant or trivial; to not give something the serious attention or consideration it deserves.
- To disregard / to downplay: To consciously or unconsciously minimize the significance, value, or seriousness of a matter, person, or rule.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ấy có thói quen coi nhẹ lời khuyên của người khác. (He has a habit of making light of others' advice.)
- Đừng coi nhẹ sức khỏe của bạn. (Do not disregard your health.)
- Công ty đã coi nhẹ mức độ nghiêm trọng của sự cố. (The company downplayed the severity of the incident.)
Advanced Usage
- The verb is often used to describe a negligent or dismissive attitude, implying a failure to recognize true importance or potential consequences.
- It can be used in both personal contexts (e.g., relationships, health) and formal contexts (e.g., safety protocols, professional advice).
Variants and Related Words
- Coi thường (v): To look down on, to despise, to scorn. This often carries a stronger, more contemptuous connotation than "coi nhẹ."
- Họ coi thường luật pháp. (They scorn the law.)
Synonyms
- To minimize: To represent something as less important than it is.
- To belittle: To dismiss someone or something as unimportant.
- To neglect: To fail to care for or give proper attention to something.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Coi nhẹ tính mạng: To make light of life; to not value life or safety.
- Lái xe ẩu là coi nhẹ tính mạng. (Reckless driving is making light of life.)
- Coi nhẹ lời hứa: To treat a promise lightly.
- Một người đàn ông đích thực không bao giờ coi nhẹ lời hứa. (A real man never treats a promise lightly.)
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To make light of
