Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Broken-hearted; crushed by grief; distressed in mind: Describes a state of deep mental anguish, sorrow, or worry, often caused by a troubling situation or concern for someone else.
   • Pained; grieved: Feeling intense emotional pain or distress.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Bà ấy rất khổ tâm vì chuyện của các con. (She is very distressed because of her children's affairs.)
  • Đừng khổ tâm về chuyện đó nữa. (Don't be heartbroken about that anymore.)
  • Anh ấy giấu nỗi khổ tâm sau nụ cười. (He hides his grief behind a smile.)

Advanced Usage

• "nỗi khổ tâm": a sorrow/worry; a heartache.
  • Cô ấy tâm sự nỗi khổ tâm với bạn thân. (She confided her heartache to her close friend.)
• Used to describe a prolonged, internalized suffering, often not immediately visible.
  • Sự khổ tâm của người mẹ thể hiện qua đôi mắt. (The mother's inner torment was visible in her eyes.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khổ sở (adj): Miserable, suffering (often implying physical hardship or general difficulty, not exclusively mental).
• Đau khổ (adj): Painful, sorrowful (a more general term for suffering and pain).
• Buồn phiền (adj): Sad, troubled (less intense than "khổ tâm").

Synonyms

• Đau lòng: Heartbroken, pained.
• Phiền muộn: Worried, troubled.
• Sầu não: Melancholy, sorrowful.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Khổ tâm khổ trí": To be both heartbroken and mentally exhausted; to be deeply troubled in both heart and mind.
  • Việc gia đình khiến ông ấy khổ tâm khổ trí. (Family matters caused him deep mental and emotional anguish.)
• "Nuốt nỗi khổ tâm vào trong": To swallow one's grief; to internalize one's sorrow.
  • Bà ấy luôn nuốt nỗi khổ tâm vào trong. (She always swallows her sorrow.)

1. broken-hearted; crushed by grief