cựu hiềm

Hai gia đình đó vẫn còn cựu hiềm từ mấy đời trước.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Old grudge / Long-standing resentment: A feeling of anger or bitterness that has been held for a long time towards someone because of a past wrong or offense. It implies a deep-seated, enduring animosity.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Hai gia đình đó vẫn còn cựu hiềm từ mấy đời trước. (Those two families still have an old grudge from generations ago.)
  • Anh ấy quyết định bỏ qua mọi cựu hiềm. (He decided to let go of all long-standing resentment.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is literary and formal, often used in historical, narrative, or serious contexts to describe entrenched, historical enmities rather than minor, recent disagreements.

Variants and Related Words

• Hiềm khích (n): enmity, ill will. This is a more common synonym.
• Thù hằn (n): hatred, vendetta. This implies a stronger, more active desire for revenge.

Synonyms

• Old enmity: A state of being enemies that has existed for a long time.
• Long-held rancor: Bitter, long-lasting resentment.
• Ancient grudge: A very old feeling of ill will.

Related Idioms

• Cựu hận tân thù: (Literally: old hatred, new enmity) This phrase describes the compounding of past and fresh grievances.
  • Mối quan hệ của họ là một mớ cựu hận tân thù. (Their relationship is a tangled web of old and new enmities.)