lột xác

lột xác

Con rắn đang lột xác trong hang.

Definition

  1. Verb (literal):

    • To molt; to shed skin: The primary biological meaning refers to the process where an animal, such as a snake or insect, sheds its old outer layer (skin, shell, or exoskeleton) to allow for growth.

  2. Verb (figurative):

    • To transform oneself; to undergo a radical change: The most common figurative meaning describes a profound personal or organizational metamorphosis, where one casts off an old state, identity, or habit to emerge renewed, improved, or completely different.
    • To be reborn; to reinvent oneself: Emphasizes a significant and positive renewal in character, style, or circumstance.

  3. Verb (obsolete/vulgar slang):

    • To beat someone severely; to give someone a thrashing: An archaic, aggressive usage meaning to physically assault someone, implying a beating so severe it is likened to stripping off skin.
Usage Examples
  • Literal:
    • Con rắn đang lột xác trong hang. (The snake is molting in its burrow.)
  • Figurative:
    • Sau khóa tu, anh ấy như lột xác, trở nên điềm tĩnh hơn. (After the meditation retreat, he transformed, becoming much calmer.)
    • Công ty đã lột xác hoàn toàn sau đợt tái cấu trúc. (The company completely reinvented itself after the restructuring.)
  • Obsolete Slang:
    • Tên côn đồ đó bị lột xác vì tội trộm cắp. (That thug was given a severe beating for theft.)
Advanced Usage
  • Often used in media and literature to describe dramatic makeovers, career changes, or spiritual awakenings. It implies a process that is often challenging but leads to a better state.
Variants and Related Words
  • Lột (v): to strip off, to peel. Can be used for skin, paint, or clothing.
    • Lột vỏ tôm. (To peel shrimp shells.)
  • Thay da đổi thịt (idiom): "to change skin and flesh"; a synonym for profound, positive transformation, often on a larger, collective scale (e.g., a neighborhood).
Synonyms
  • To molt/shed (literal).
  • To transform / to metamorphose (figurative).
  • To reinvent / to remake oneself (figurative).
  • To thrash / to beat (obsolete).
Related Idioms
  • Lột xác thành người mới: to molt/shed one's skin to become a new person. This phrase explicitly highlights the figurative rebirth.
    • Cô ấy lột xác thành một người mới đầy tự tin. (She transformed into a new, confident person.)