cũ nát
Definition
- Adjective:
- Old and dilapidated: Describes an object, building, or item that is both very old and in a state of severe decay, ruin, or disrepair. It emphasizes a combination of age and poor physical condition.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Căn nhà ấy trông rất cũ nát. (That house looks very old and dilapidated.)
- Họ vứt bỏ chiếc xe cũ nát. (They discarded the old, broken-down car.)
- Những cuốn sách trong thư viện đã cũ nát. (The books in the library were old and tattered.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used metaphorically to describe systems, ideas, or institutions perceived as antiquated and dysfunctional.
- Hệ thống giáo dục cũ nát cần được cải tổ. (The old and dilapidated education system needs reform.)
Variants and Related Words
- Cũ kỹ (adj): Old-fashioned, outdated (focuses more on age/style than physical decay).
- Hỏng nát (adj): Broken and ruined (focuses more on the state of being broken than age).
- Đổ nát (adj): Dilapidated, in ruins (often used for structures).
Synonyms
- Dilapidated: In a state of disrepair or ruin due to age or neglect.
- Ramshackle: Badly made or maintained; falling apart.
- Tumbledown: Dilapidated, rickety.
- Decrepit: Worn out or ruined because of age or neglect.
Related Idioms
- While "cũ nát" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is commonly used in descriptive phrases that convey a strong sense of obsolescence and decay.