hữu tài vô hạnh
Definition
- Idiom (Thành ngữ):
- Talented but lacking virtue: Describes a person who possesses significant talent, skill, or ability ("hữu tài") but is morally deficient, has poor character, or lacks integrity ("vô hạnh"). It emphasizes that talent without virtue is flawed and potentially dangerous.
Usage Examples
- Idiom:
- Anh ta thông minh xuất chúng, nhưng thật đáng tiếc là kiểu người hữu tài vô hạnh. (He is exceptionally intelligent, but unfortunately, he is the type who is talented but lacking virtue.)
- Câu chuyện đó là một bài học về hậu quả của kẻ hữu tài vô hạnh. (That story is a lesson about the consequences of a talented but virtueless person.)
Advanced Usage
- This idiom is often used in moral, educational, or critical contexts to discuss the importance of character development alongside skill acquisition. It can be applied to historical figures, fictional characters, or contemporary individuals in politics, business, or the arts.
Variants and Related Words
- Có tài mà không có đức: A more direct, non-idiomatic phrase with the same meaning: "to have talent but no virtue."
Synonyms
- Gifted but unscrupulous: Having talent but no moral principles.
- Skilled but dishonorable: Possessing ability but acting without integrity.
Related Idioms
- Có tài có đức: The positive counterpart meaning "to have both talent and virtue."
- Tài cao đức trọng: A complimentary phrase for someone who is "highly talented and deeply virtuous."