Definition

1. Verb:
   • To lower one's words; to speak humbly: "hạ từ" means to speak in a humble, submissive, or pleading manner, often to explain oneself, beg, or implore.
   • To plead; to beseech: It refers to the act of making a humble and earnest request or appeal.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy phải hạ từ xin lỗi trước mặt mọi người. (He had to humbly apologize in front of everyone.)
  • Cô ấy hạ từ van xin đối phương tha thứ. (She pleaded humbly for the other party's forgiveness.)
  • Không bao giờ hắn chịu hạ từ trước bất kỳ ai. (He would never lower himself to speak humbly before anyone.)

Advanced Usage

• "hạ mình hạ từ": To lower oneself and one's words; to be extremely humble and submissive in speech.
  • Để hòa giải, đôi khi cần phải biết hạ mình hạ từ. (To reconcile, sometimes one must know how to humble oneself and speak submissively.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hạ mình (verb): To lower oneself; to humble oneself (often in behavior or status, not exclusively speech).
  • Anh ta không bao giờ chịu hạ mình. (He never stoops to humbling himself.)
• Khiêm từ (noun/verb): Humble words; to speak modestly. (This is a more common and general term for humble speech, whereas "hạ từ" implies a more supplicating tone.)
  • Ông ấy trả lời với những lời khiêm từ. (He answered with humble words.)

Synonyms

• Năn nỉ: To plead, to entreat earnestly.
• Van xin: To beg, to implore.
• Cầu khẩn: To beseech, to supplicate.

Notes on Usage

• Register: "Hạ từ" is a literary and somewhat rare term in modern Vietnamese. It carries a formal, classical nuance.
• Context: It is primarily used in contexts involving apology, supplication, or situations where one must show extreme deference or submission through speech. It is not used for casual requests.