Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Pungent; acrid: Describing a strong, sharp, and often unpleasant smell that stings the nose.
   • Severe; harsh; strict: Describing a person's manner or attitude as unreasonably stern, rigid, or overbearing.
   • (Colloquial) Very difficult; extremely hard: Used to describe a task or problem that is challenging to an intense degree.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Pungent):
  • Mùi này hắc quá. (This smell is too pungent.)
  • Mùi thuốc súng hắc mũi. (The smell of gunpowder is acrid.)
• Adjective (Severe/Harsh):
  • Ông giám đốc đó nổi tiếng là rất hắc. (That director is famous for being very harsh.)
• Adjective (Very difficult):
  • Bài toán này hắc thật! (This math problem is really hard!)

Advanced Usage

• The word "hắc" is considered somewhat colloquial or informal, especially when describing difficulty or a harsh manner. For formal descriptions of smell, "hăng" or "xốc" might be alternatives.
• It can describe an overpowering presence or aura, not just a smell.

Variants and Related Words

• Hắc lào (n): Ringworm (a skin disease). This is a fixed compound noun.
• Hắc ín (n): Tar; asphalt. This is a fixed compound noun.
• Hắc ám (adj): Dark; sinister. This is a literary compound adjective.

Synonyms

• Pungent/Acrid: sharp, biting, stinging.
• Severe/Harsh: stern, rigid, overbearing, tough.
• Very difficult: tough, arduous, challenging.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Ăn nói hắc xì: To speak in a very harsh, grating, or unpleasant manner.
  • Đừng ăn nói hắc xì với khách hàng. (Don't speak so harshly to the customer.)
• Mặt mày hắc lại: To have a dark, stern, or angry expression on one's face.
  • Nghe tin đó, anh ta mặt mày hắc lại. (Hearing that news, his face turned dark and stern.)

adj

1. black pungent
   • mùi này hắc quá
     This smell is too pungent very hard; very difficult