kiểu sức

Definition

Adjective:
- Showy, spuriously brilliant; affected: "Kiểu sức" describes something that is flashy, gaudy, or superficially attractive in a way that is meant to impress but lacks genuine substance, quality, or sincerity. It often carries a negative connotation of being pretentious or fake.

Usage

"Kiểu sức" is a literary and somewhat archaic term. It is used to criticize the appearance, style, or manner of something or someone as being overly ornate, insincere, or trying too hard to seem impressive.
It typically functions as an adjective modifying a noun.

Usage Examples

Adjective:
- Lối trang trí kiểu sức ấy không hợp với không gian trang nghiêm. (That showy style of decoration is not suitable for the solemn space.)
- Anh ta có vẻ ngoài kiểu sức, nhưng thực chất bên trong chẳng có gì. (He has a spuriously brilliant appearance, but in essence, there's nothing inside.)
- Văn phong của tác giả non trẻ đôi khi còn kiểu sức, thiếu chiều sâu. (The writing style of the young author is sometimes affected, lacking depth.)

Advanced Usage

The term is often used in literary criticism or descriptive prose to denote a lack of authenticity or an excess of superficial embellishment.
It can describe not just objects or styles, but also behaviors, speech, or writing that is contrived or artificially impressive.

Variants and Related Words

Hào nhoáng (adj): Ostentatious, flashy. A more common modern synonym.
Lòe loẹt (adj): Gaudy, garish. Emphasizes visually excessive and tasteless display.
Giả tạo (adj): Fake, artificial. Focuses on the lack of genuineness.
Màu mè (adj): Florid, flowery (often regarding language or style). Similar in criticizing excessive ornamentation.

Synonyms

Showy: Attracting attention in a gaudy or obvious way.
Flashy: Ostentatiously attractive or impressive.
Pretentious: Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.
Affected: Artificial, pretentious, and designed to impress.

Related Idioms

"Tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn": Literally "Good wood is better than good paint." This Vietnamese proverb aligns with the concept behind "kiểu sức," emphasizing substance over superficial, showy appearance.
"Mèo khen mèo dài đuôi": Literally "The cat praises its own long tail." This idiom about self-praise can relate to the affected, showy behavior described by "kiểu sức."