Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Spoiled, broken, not functioning: Used to describe objects, machinery, or food that is damaged, defective, or no longer works properly.
   • Decayed, rotten: Often used specifically for teeth that are decayed.
   • (Of a child) Naughty, badly behaved: Describes a child who has developed bad habits or disobedient behavior.

2. Adjective:

   • False, unreal, imaginary: Refers to something that is not true, not real, or without substance. This meaning is often used in contrast with "thực" (real, true).

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Spoiled/Broken):
  • Cái quạt này bị hư rồi. (This fan is broken.)
  • Đừng ăn trái cây đã hư. (Don't eat the spoiled fruit.)
• Adjective (Decayed):
  • Bé bị sâu răng nên có mấy cái răng hư. (The child has cavities, so several teeth are decayed.)
• Adjective (Naughty child):
  • Con không được hư như vậy! (You must not be so naughty!)
• Adjective (False/Unreal):
  • Đó chỉ là tin đồn hư, đừng tin. (That's just a false rumor, don't believe it.)
  • Phân biệt giữa thực và hư. (To distinguish between the real and the unreal.)

Advanced Usage

• "hư danh": false reputation, undeserved fame.
  • Ông ấy không muốn sống với một cái hư danh. (He doesn't want to live with a false reputation.)
• "hư vô": nihilistic, nothingness (a philosophical term).
  • Chủ nghĩa hư vô. (Nihilism.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hư hỏng (adj/v): damaged, corrupted; to break down.
  • Đồ chơi bị hư hỏng nặng. (The toy is badly damaged.)
• Hư hại (v/n): to damage; damage.
  • Lũ lụt gây hư hại cho nhà cửa. (The flood caused damage to houses.)
• Hư cấu (v): to fictionalize.
  • Nhân vật trong truyện được hư cấu. (The characters in the story are fictionalized.)

Synonyms

• Spoiled/Broken: damaged, defective, faulty.
• Decayed: rotten, carious (for teeth).
• Naughty: mischievous, disobedient.
• False: unreal, fictitious, imaginary.

Related Idioms

• Hư thân mất nết: to ruin one's character and virtue (often said of a woman).
  • Cha mẹ lo sợ con gái hư thân mất nết. (Parents fear their daughter will ruin her virtue.)
• Thực giả lẫn lộn: reality and falsehood are mixed (highlights the contrast with "thực").
  • Thời buổi này, thực hư khó phân biệt. (These days, it's hard to distinguish truth from falsehood.)

adj

1. corrupt; decayed; rotten; spoiled
   • răng hư
     decayed teeth

adj

1. vain; false; unreal