Definition

1. Adjective:
   • To be defeated / to be vanquished: Describes a state of having been completely overcome by an opponent in a conflict, competition, or struggle.
   • To be inferior / to be deficient: Describes a state of being markedly worse or weaker in quality, ability, or power compared to another.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Đội bóng đó đã hoàn toàn liệt bại. (That football team was completely defeated.)
  • Kế hoạch của họ liệt bại trước sự cạnh tranh. (Their plan proved inferior in the face of competition.)

Advanced Usage

• Used in formal or literary contexts to describe a decisive and often total failure or shortcoming, rather than a minor loss.

Variants and Related Words

• Thất bại (n, v): failure; to fail. A more common and general term for failure.

  • Thất bại là mẹ thành công. (Failure is the mother of success.)

• Đại bại (n): a great or crushing defeat.

  • Trận chiến kết thúc với một đại bại. (The battle ended in a crushing defeat.)

Synonyms

• Defeated: overcome in a contest or battle.
• Vanquished: defeated thoroughly.
• Inferior: lower in quality or ability.

Related Idioms

• Liệt bại như cháy đồng: To be utterly and rapidly defeated (like a fire burning across a field).
  • Đội quân ấy liệt bại như cháy đồng. (That army was utterly and rapidly defeated.)