dể
Definition
- Verb:
- To disrespect, to treat with contempt: To show a lack of respect or regard for someone or something; to treat as unworthy or inferior.
- To belittle, to scorn: To make someone or something seem unimportant or of little value.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ấy không nên dể người khác như vậy. (He should not disrespect others like that.)
- Đừng dể lời khuyên của cha mẹ. (Do not scorn your parents' advice.)
Advanced Usage
"dể người": to look down on someone, to treat someone with contempt.
- Thái độ dể người của anh ta khiến mọi người khó chịu. (His contemptuous attitude makes people uncomfortable.)
"coi dể" / "xem dể": to regard with disrespect, to hold in low esteem (often used as a compound verb).
- Không ai thích bị coi dể. (No one likes to be looked down upon.)
Variants and Related Words
Khinh dể (verb): to despise, to scorn (a stronger, more formal synonym).
- Hành động đó thể hiện sự khinh dể luật pháp. (That action shows contempt for the law.)
Dể duôi (adjective): negligent, careless, lax (a different word with a distinct meaning, but sometimes confused due to similarity).
- Sự dể duôi trong công việc có thể dẫn đến sai sót. (Negligence in work can lead to mistakes.)
Synonyms
- Coi thường: to look down on, to disdain.
- Khinh thường: to despise, to scorn.
- Miệt thị: to disparage, to insult.
Notes on Usage
- The word "dể" is less common in modern everyday Northern Vietnamese speech, where "coi thường" is more frequently used. It may be found more in formal, literary contexts or in certain regional dialects.
- It is important to distinguish "dể" (disrespect) from the more common adjective "dễ" (easy). They are different words.
- The primary meaning revolves around an attitude or action of disrespect and contempt.