Definition

1. Phrase (Idiomatic expression):
   • To not care at all, to disregard completely, to ignore something/someone: "Kệ xác" is a strong, often vulgar or very informal phrase expressing complete indifference or a deliberate decision to ignore a situation or person. It conveys a sense of abandoning concern, similar to "to hell with it/them" or "couldn't care less."
   • To leave someone/something to their/its own fate: It implies letting something happen without intervention or worry, as if leaving a corpse ("xác") unattended.

Usage Examples

• As a complete phrase (often used alone or as a verb phrase):
  • Nó cứ nói đi, kệ xác nó! (Let him keep talking, to hell with him!)
  • Công việc dở dang, anh ta kệ xác nó mà đi chơi. (The work was unfinished, but he completely ignored it and went out.)
  • A: "Mọi người đang phàn nàn về cậu đấy." B: "Kệ xác!" (A: "People are complaining about you." B: "I don't give a damn!")

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is highly informal and carries a rude, dismissive, or frustrated tone. It is used in casual speech among peers or to express strong personal irritation. It is not suitable for formal contexts.
• It can be directed at a person ("kệ xác nó" - leave him/her be/to hell with him/her), a situation ("kệ xác chuyện đó" - forget about that matter), or used as a general exclamation ("Kệ xác!" - Screw it!/Who cares!").

Variants and Related Words

• Kệ (verb): To disregard, to not care about (less strong than "kệ xác").
  • Kệ nó đi. (Just leave him/her/it alone.)
• Kệ thây (phrase): A synonym with identical meaning and register to "kệ xác."
  • Kệ thây nó làm gì thì làm. (Let him do whatever he wants, I don't care.)
• Mặc kệ (phrase): To ignore, to let be (slightly less vulgar but still informal).
  • Mặc kệ đời! (To hell with everything!)
• Mặc xác (phrase): Similar to "kệ xác," meaning to disregard completely.
  • Cứ mặc xác nó. (Just ignore him completely.)

Synonyms (English Equivalents in Context)

• To not give a damn/hoot: (Hoàn toàn không quan tâm).
• To hell with it/them: (Kệ nó đi/mặc xác nó).
• To brush off/ignore completely: (Phớt lờ hoàn toàn).
• To leave someone/something to their/its own devices: (Mặc cho ai/cái gì tự xoay sở).

Related Idioms

• Kệ đời (phrase): To disregard life's worries, to adopt a "couldn't care less" attitude towards life's pressures.
  • Anh ấy sống với tâm thế kệ đời. (He lives with a devil-may-care attitude.)
• Mặc đời (phrase): Similar to "kệ đời."
  • Chuyện gì đến cũng mặc đời. (Whatever happens, I just don't care.)

1. như kệ thây