Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Fierce, ferocious, savage: Describes a person, animal, or action that is extremely violent, brutal, and aggressive, often showing a cruel and wild nature.
   • Ruthless, vicious: Indicates a cruel and merciless quality, often associated with a lack of pity or remorse.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Kẻ thù tỏ ra rất hung hãn trong trận chiến. (The enemy showed themselves to be very ferocious in battle.)
  • Con hổ đó có vẻ ngoài hung hãn. (That tiger has a savage appearance.)
  • Hành động hung hãn của tên cướp khiến mọi người khiếp sợ. (The brutal action of the robber terrified everyone.)

Advanced Usage

• "hung hãn như thú dữ": as fierce as a wild beast.
  • Khi bị dồn vào đường cùng, hắn trở nên hung hãn như thú dữ. (When cornered, he became as fierce as a wild beast.)
• Used to describe not only living beings but also abstract concepts like war, policies, or attitudes.
  • Cuộc tấn công mang tính chất hung hãn. (The attack was of a ruthless nature.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hung ác (adj): Cruel, wicked, brutal. (A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "hung hãn").
• Hung bạo (adj): Tyrannical, violently cruel.
• Hung dữ (adj): Fierce, ferocious (often used for animals).
• Hung tàn (adj): Brutal and destructive.

Synonyms

• Dữ tợn: Fierce, ferocious.
• Tàn bạo: Brutal, cruel.
• Ác độc: Malicious, wicked.
• Bạo lực: Violent.

Related Phrases

• Bộ mặt hung hãn: A ferocious/vicious face.
  • Hắn lộ ra bộ mặt hung hãn. (He revealed his ferocious face.)
• Thái độ hung hãn: A savage/aggressive attitude.
  • Đừng có thái độ hung hãn như vậy! (Don't have such a savage attitude!)

Related Idioms

• "Hùm dữ mất con" (Literally: A fierce tiger that has lost its cub): Used to describe someone who is extremely furious and dangerous when provoked or having lost something precious. This idiom conveys a similar intensity to "hung hãn."
  • Anh ta nổi giận như hùm dữ mất con. (He got angry like a fierce tiger that has lost its cub.)

1. như hung ác