Definition

Adjective: - Ill-bred; unmannerly: Describes a person who behaves in a rude, disrespectful, or socially unacceptable way, indicating a lack of proper upbringing or education. - Badly brought up; lacking in morals: Refers to someone whose character or actions are considered corrupt, depraved, or morally deficient due to poor upbringing.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Đứa trẻ đó thật mất dạy. (That child is truly ill-bred.)
  • Tại sao nó lại mất dạy đến thế? (How come it that he is so unmannerly?)
  • Anh ta ăn nói mất dạy với người lớn. (He speaks disrespectfully to elders.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is very strong and carries heavy social condemnation. It is used to severely criticize not just the behavior but the person's fundamental character and the failure of their family's upbringing.
• It can function as a predicate adjective or an attributive adjective (e.g., - an ill-bred child).

Variants and Related Words

• Vô giáo dục (adj): Uneducated (in a moral/social sense), lacking education. Often used similarly but can be slightly less severe.
• Hư hỏng (adj): Spoiled, corrupt, depraved. Shares the moral deficiency aspect but is broader than just manners.
• Thất lễ (adj): Impolite, lacking propriety. Focuses more on specific breaches of etiquette rather than overall character.

Synonyms

• Ill-mannered
• Disrespectful
• Rude
• Uncouth

Related Idioms and Expressions

• Con nhà mất dạy: A child from an ill-bred family. This phrase emphasizes that the bad behavior is seen as a reflection of the entire family's failure.
• Ăn nói mất dạy: To speak in an ill-bred manner. A common collocation criticizing someone's speech as rude and disrespectful.

adj

1. Ill-bred; unmanerly
   • tại sao nó lại mất dạy đến thế
     How cone it that he is so unmanerly