Definition

Verb (archaic, rarely used): - To leave a bad name/reputation: To cause one's own reputation or the reputation of something (like a family, a place) to become tarnished or infamous due to one's actions or behavior.

Usage

This verb is used to describe the negative consequence of an action that damages a reputation. It is an archaic term and is very rarely used in modern Vietnamese. It typically appears in formal, literary, or historical contexts. - Hành động phản bội của hắn đã di xú cho cả dòng họ. (His act of betrayal left a bad name for the entire clan.) - Những vụ án tham nhũng đó di xú cho cả một chế độ. (Those corruption scandals left a bad reputation for an entire regime.)

Advanced Usage / Nuances

• The term carries a strong, formal, and somewhat severe connotation. It implies a lasting, serious stain on honor or prestige.
• It is often used with abstract collective nouns representing reputation, such as "danh tiếng" (reputation), "thanh danh" (good name), "dòng họ" (clan/family name), or "tổ quốc" (fatherland).

Variants and Related Words

• Làm ô danh / Làm nhục: To disgrace, to bring shame. (More common synonyms in modern usage.)
• Mang tiếng xấu: To bear a bad reputation.
• Để lại tiếng xấu: To leave behind a bad name. (A more contemporary way to express a similar idea.)

Synonyms

• Làm ô nhục: To dishonor, to disgrace.
• Làm hoen ố (thanh danh): To tarnish (a reputation).
• Bôi nhọ (danh dự): To smear, to sully (honor).

Related Idioms / Phrases

• "Nhục đến tổ tông": Disgrace reaching one's ancestors. (This idiom conveys a similar, even stronger sense of bringing shame to one's lineage, which is closely related to the concept of "di xú".)

1. (cũ, ít dùng) Leave a bad name (reputation)