Definition

1. Noun:

   • Competition, rivalry, contest: Refers to a state of competing to determine who is superior or inferior, who wins or loses. It often implies a sense of comparison and contention over status, ability, or results.
   • The act of arguing to prove one is right: Can describe a petty argument where people insist on having the last word or proving their point, often without significant purpose.

2. Verb phrase (to engage in "hơn thua"):

   • To compete, to vie, to argue over superiority: The act of participating in such a competition or contentious comparison.
   • To bicker, to squabble: To argue in a petty, often unnecessary way about who is better or right.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Anh em trong nhà không nên có chuyện hơn thua. (Siblings shouldn't have rivalry.)
  • Cuộc tranh luận đó chỉ là chuyện hơn thua nhỏ nhặt. (That debate was just petty squabbling.)

• Verb phrase:

  • Họ cứ hơn thua nhau từng chút một. (They keep bickering over every little thing.)
  • Đừng hơn thua với đồng nghiệp, hãy tập trung vào công việc. (Don't compete unnecessarily with colleagues; focus on the work.)

Advanced Usage

• "chuyện hơn thua": matters of competition/petty rivalry.

  • Bỏ qua chuyện hơn thua đi, sống cho thoải mái. (Let go of petty rivalries and live comfortably.)

• "tính hơn thua": a competitive/comparative nature.

  • Anh ấy có tính hơn thua rất cao. (He has a very competitive nature.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thi đua (verb): To emulate, to compete (in a more positive, constructive sense).

  • Hai đội thi đua rất quyết liệt. (The two teams competed fiercely.)

• Tranh giành (verb): To struggle for, to contend for (often over resources or position).

• Cãi vã (verb): To quarrel, to argue.

Synonyms

• Competition: sự cạnh tranh.
• Rivalry: sự kình địch, sự ganh đua.
• Squabble: sự cãi vặt.

Related Phrases

• Hơn thua được thua: A fuller phrase emphasizing the win-lose aspect.
  • Trong cuộc chơi, hơn thua được thua là chuyện thường. (In games, winning and losing is normal.)

Related Idioms

• "Được làm vua, thua làm giặc": Literally "Win becomes king, lose becomes bandit." Means the winner takes all and the loser is scorned, highlighting the harsh reality of competition.

  • Thương trường là chiến trường, được làm vua thua làm giặc. (The business arena is a battlefield; the winner takes all.)

• "Thắng làm vua, thua làm giặc": A common variant of the above idiom with the same meaning.

1. Win or lose