cố tật
Definition
- Noun:
- An old ailment / a chronic infirmity: A physical illness, disability, or health condition that has persisted for a very long time and is difficult to cure.
- An ingrained bad habit / an inveterate vice: A long-standing, deeply rooted negative habit or character flaw that is hard to change.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ông ấy vẫn bị cái cố tật đau lưng hành hạ. (He is still tormented by the old ailment of back pain.)
- Nói dối là cố tật của nó từ nhỏ. (Lying is his inveterate vice since childhood.)
- Anh ấy cố gắng bỏ thuốc lá nhưng đó là một cố tật khó sửa. (He tries to quit smoking, but it is a deeply ingrained habit that is hard to break.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a nuance of something negative (a weakness, flaw, or chronic problem) that is stubbornly persistent and a defining part of a person or situation.
- It can be used metaphorically beyond individuals, e.g., to describe persistent, negative traits in an organization or system.
- Tham nhũng đã trở thành cố tật của bộ máy đó. (Corruption has become the inveterate vice of that machinery.)
Variants and Related Words
- Tật xấu (n): A bad habit. (This is a more common and general term for a bad habit, while implies it is long-ingrained.)
- Bệnh kinh niên (n): A chronic disease. (Specifically for medical conditions.)
- Thói quen cũ (n): An old habit.
Synonyms
- Chronic infirmity
- Inveterate vice
- Ingrained habit
- Long-standing flaw
Related Idioms
- Cố tật lại tái phát: The old vice/habit has relapsed. Used when someone returns to a bad habit after a period of stopping.
- Anh ta hứa sẽ không cờ bạc nữa, nhưng giờ cố tật lại tái phát. (He promised not to gamble anymore, but now the old vice has relapsed.)