kém mắt

Definition
  1. Adjective phrase:
    • Having poor eyesight; having weak or bad eyes: Describes a condition where one's vision is not sharp or clear; having substandard visual acuity.
    • Having poor judgment or discernment (in a specific context): Can be used figuratively to describe a lack of perceptiveness or poor taste in evaluating something, often related to aesthetics or value.
Usage Examples
  • Literal meaning (poor eyesight): (My grandmother is old so her eyesight is a bit poor.) (I have poor eyesight; I can't read small print.)
  • Figurative meaning (poor judgment/discernment): (He has rather poor judgment in choosing friends.) [Implies poor discernment of character] (Saying this item is beautiful shows a bit of poor taste.) [Implies poor aesthetic judgment]
Advanced Usage
  • "thiệt thòi vì kém mắt": to be at a disadvantage due to poor eyesight. (In this job, a person with poor eyesight will be at a disadvantage.)
  • Used to politely or indirectly state that someone's vision is not good. ("He just has slightly poor eyesight, but is still healthy.")
Variants and Related Words
  • Cận thị (n): Nearsightedness, myopia. (A specific condition of poor eyesight for distant objects).
  • Viễn thị (n): Farsightedness, hyperopia. (A specific condition of poor eyesight for near objects).
  • Loạn thị (n): Astigmatism.
  • Mắt kém (adj phrase): An alternative word order with the same core meaning as "kém mắt".
  • Kém (adj): Inferior, poor, weak. (The core adjective meaning "poor" or "inferior").
  • Mắt (n): Eye.
Synonyms
  • Mắt mờ: Having blurry/dim vision.
  • Thị lực kém: Having poor visual acuity (more formal/medical).
  • Mắt không được tinh: Eyes are not sharp/acute (descriptive synonym from the reference dictionary).
Related Phrases
  • Kém mắt hơn: To have poorer eyesight than (someone/something). (His eyesight is much poorer now than before.)
  • Càng ngày càng kém mắt: Eyesight is getting worse day by day. (She complains that her eyesight is getting worse day by day.)
Related Idioms
  • Mắt sáng như sao: (Idiom for good eyesight) Eyes are bright like stars.
  • Mắt tinh như cú: (Idiom for sharp eyesight) Eyes as sharp as an owl's.