Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Strict, severe, harsh: Describes a manner, rule, condition, or demand that is extremely rigorous, inflexible, and leaves little or no room for leniency or error.
   • Intense, stringent: Often refers to the high intensity or extreme nature of a situation, such as harsh weather or stringent competition.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Giám khảo rất gắt gao trong việc chấm điểm. (The judges are very strict in scoring.)
  • Cuộc thi có những tiêu chuẩn gắt gao. (The competition has stringent standards.)
  • Thời tiết gắt gao của mùa hè. (The harsh weather of summer.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe abstract concepts like scrutiny, control, or principles.
  • Sự giám sát gắt gao. (Strict supervision.)
  • Những nguyên tắc gắt gao. (Rigorous principles.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gắt (adj): Sharp, harsh, irritable (often used for tone of voice or temperament).
  • Giọng nói gắt. (A sharp tone of voice.)
• Nghiêm ngặt (adj): Strict, rigorous (close synonym, often interchangeable in formal contexts).
  • Quy định nghiêm ngặt. (Strict regulations.)

Synonyms

• Strict: Demanding that rules are obeyed completely.
• Severe: Very strict, harsh, or extreme.
• Stringent: Rigorous, severe, and demanding precision.
• Rigorous: Extremely thorough and accurate.

Related Idioms

• Đòi nợ gắt gao / Thúc nợ gắt gao: To dun with harshness; to press for debt repayment relentlessly and severely.
  • Chủ nợ thúc nợ gắt gao. (The creditor is dunning the debt harshly.)
• Thi đấu gắt gao: To compete fiercely or intensely.
  • Trận chung kết diễn ra vô cùng gắt gao. (The final match took place with intense fierceness.)

1. Strict, severe, harsh
   • Thúc nợ gắt gao
     To dun with harshness