Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Good-natured, gentle, mild-mannered: Describes a person with a kind, gentle, and peaceful temperament. It implies a lack of aggression, malice, or harshness.
   • Docile, tame: Can describe an animal that is not wild or aggressive.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cô ấy là một người rất hiền lành. (She is a very good-natured person.)
  • Con chó này hiền lành lắm, không cắn đâu. (This dog is very gentle; it won't bite.)
  • Tính anh ấy hiền lành nên ai cũng quý. (Because he has a mild-mannered personality, everyone likes him.)

Advanced Usage

• "hiền lành, chất phác": Often used together to describe someone who is both gentle and simple, honest, or unpretentious.
  • Bác nông dân ấy hiền lành và chất phác. (That farmer is good-natured and simple-hearted.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hiền (adj): Gentle, kind, virtuous. A slightly more formal or literary synonym, often used in compounds (e.g., hiền thê - virtuous wife). "Hiền lành" is more colloquial and emphasizes inherent, peaceful nature.
• Hiền hòa (adj): Gentle and peaceful, often describing demeanor or atmosphere.
  • Giọng nói hiền hòa (A gentle voice)
• Hiền từ (adj): Kind and benevolent, often with a connotation of paternal/maternal or saintly kindness.
  • Ánh mắt hiền từ (A benevolent gaze)

Synonyms

• Hiền (adj): gentle, kind.
• Dịu dàng (adj): soft, gentle (often describing manner or voice).
• Hiền hậu (adj): kind and gracious.

Antonyms

• Dữ tợn (adj): fierce, ferocious.
• Hỗn hào (adj): rude, insolent.
• Nóng nảy (adj): hot-tempered, quick-tempered.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Hiền như đất": (As gentle as earth) An idiom meaning extremely gentle, patient, and tolerant.
  • Bà ấy hiền như đất, chẳng bao giờ to tiếng. (She is as gentle as earth, never raising her voice.)
• "Hiền lành từ trong trứng": (Gentle from inside the egg) An idiom meaning to be inherently, innately gentle by nature.

1. Good-natured
   • Con người rất hiền lành, không bao giờ làm hại ai
     A good-natured person who would harm anyone