Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Stinking, foul-smelling: Describes something that emits a very unpleasant, offensive, and often putrid odor. It combines the meanings of "hôi" (smelly) and "thối" (rotten), indicating a strong, repulsive stench.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Thùng rác này hôi thối quá, phải đổ đi ngay. (This trash bin is too stinking, it must be taken out immediately.)
  • Một mùi hôi thối bốc lên từ cống rãnh. (A foul smell rose from the sewer.)

Advanced Usage

• Used figuratively to describe corrupt, immoral, or despicable behavior or situations:
  • Những vụ tham nhũng hôi thối đó đã bị phơi bày. (Those rotten corruption cases have been exposed.)
  • Bộ mặt hôi thối của hắn ta cuối cùng cũng bị lật tẩy. (His foul true face was finally unmasked.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hôi (adj): Smelly, malodorous. A milder term than "hôi thối".
  • Cá ươn rất hôi. (Spoiled fish is very smelly.)
• Thối (adj): Rotten, putrid. Often refers to the smell or state of decay.
  • Trái cây này đã thối rồi. (This fruit is already rotten.)
• Thối rữa (adj): Decomposed, putrefied. Emphasizes the state of advanced decay.
  • Xác chết đã thối rữa. (The corpse has putrefied.)

Synonyms

• Hôi hám (adj): Stinking, reeking.
• Tanh (adj): Having a fishy or腥 (xīng) smell.
• Nồng nặc (adj): Used for a strong, pungent, and oppressive smell (can be bad or intense).

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Hôi như cú: As smelly as an owl (a folk simile for something very foul-smelling).
  • Cái ao tù này hôi như cú. (This stagnant pond stinks to high heaven.)
• Thối hoắc / Thối um (adj, colloquial): Extremely stinking, reeking awfully. These are emphatic, colloquial variants.
  • Phòng vệ sinh công cộng đó thối hoắc. (That public toilet reeks awfully.)

adj

1. stinking