Definition

1. Verb:
   • To respect; to hold in regard: To feel or show deference, consideration, or esteem for someone, often due to their status, age, or authority, which influences one's behavior towards them.
   • To be mindful of; to have consideration for: To act with restraint or care because of respect for a person's feelings, position, or potential reaction.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy rất kiêng nể ý kiến của người lớn tuổi. (He greatly respects the opinions of his elders.)
  • Cô ấy chẳng kiêng nể ai cả, cứ nói thẳng những gì mình nghĩ. (She doesn't hold anyone in regard; she just says exactly what she thinks.)
  • Trong công ty, mọi người đều kiêng nể sự nghiêm khắc của giám đốc. (In the company, everyone is mindful of the director's strictness.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in negative constructions (e.g., , ) to emphasize a lack of respect, restraint, or consideration.
  • Hắn ta nói năng rất vô lễ, chẳng kiêng nể một ai. (He speaks very rudely, with no regard for anyone.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kiêng (v): To abstain from; to avoid for reasons of custom, health, or respect.
  • Bà ấy kiêng ăn thịt bò. (She abstains from eating beef.)
• Nể (v): To respect; to hold in high esteem (slightly less formal than "kiêng nể").
  • Tôi rất nể khả năng làm việc của cô ấy. (I deeply respect her work ability.)
• Nể nang (v): To show proper respect and consideration (similar to "kiêng nể").
  • Anh ấy đối xử với mọi người rất có nể nang. (He treats everyone with great consideration.)

Synonyms

• Respect: To feel or show esteem or honor.
• Regard: To consider or think of with a specified feeling or view, often respect.
• Defer to: To yield to the opinion or wishes of another out of respect.

Related Idioms

• Kiêng nể đủ đường: To show complete and thorough respect/consideration in every way.
  • Vì là sếp cũ, nên anh ấy kiêng nể đủ đường. (Because he is the former boss, he shows him complete consideration in every way.)

verb

1. to respect; to have regard and so consideration for