Definition

1. Verb:
   • To look down upon / to despise: To regard someone or something as unworthy of respect or consideration; to have a low opinion of.
   • To disregard / to scorn: To treat something as unimportant or insignificant; to show a lack of attention or care for rules, advice, or dangers.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ta coi thường luật pháp. (He looks down upon/disregards the law.)
  • Đừng bao giờ coi thường đối thủ của bạn. (Never despise your opponent.)
  • Cô ấy coi thường lời khuyên từ cha mẹ. (She scorns the advice from her parents.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb often implies an attitude of arrogance or superiority. It can be used with abstract concepts (like danger, rules) or directly towards people.
• "coi thường thường thức": to disregard common sense.
  • Hành động đó là coi thường thường thức. (That action is a disregard for common sense.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khinh thường (v): A stronger, more formal synonym meaning to disdain, to hold in contempt.

  • Hắn khinh thường những kẻ yếu thế. (He disdains the vulnerable.)

• Xem thường (v): A very close synonym, often interchangeable, meaning to look down on.

  • Không nên xem thường bất kỳ ai. (One should not look down on anyone.)

Synonyms

• Despise: To feel contempt or a deep repugnance for.
• Disdain: To consider unworthy of one's consideration; to scorn.
• Scorn: To feel or express contempt or derision.
• Disregard: To pay no attention to; to ignore.

Related Idioms

• Coi thường tính mạng: to disregard one's own life (to act recklessly).

  • Lái xe khi say rượu là coi thường tính mạng. (Driving while drunk is disregarding your own life.)

• Coi thường thiên hạ: to look down upon everyone; to be arrogantly dismissive of people.

  • Thái độ coi thường thiên hạ của anh ta khiến mọi người khó chịu. (His attitude of looking down on everyone makes people uncomfortable.)

1. To think little of