Definition

1. Verb:
   • To catch / to contract / to fall victim to: To become affected by something undesirable, such as an illness, a bad habit, or a negative circumstance. It implies an unfortunate or involuntary acquisition.
   • To get caught in / to fall into: To become ensnared or trapped by a physical object or a metaphorical situation like a trap, a problem, or a difficult condition.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy đã mắc phải bệnh cúm. (He caught the flu.)
  • Con chim mắc phải lưới. (The bird got caught in the net.)
  • Công ty mắc phải khó khăn tài chính. (The company fell into financial difficulty.)

Advanced Usage

• This verb is often used with negative or undesirable objects. It carries a nuance of misfortune or lack of intention.
  • Mắc phải sai lầm: to commit a mistake (in the sense of unfortunately making one).
  • Mắc phải nợ nần: to incur debts.

Variants and Related Words

• Mắc (v): A more general term meaning to be caught, stuck, or entangled. "Mắc phải" often adds emphasis on the unfortunate occurrence.
  • Mắc kẹt (v): to be stuck.
  • Mắc bệnh (v): to contract a disease.

Synonyms

• Contract: to acquire (an illness).
• Catch: to become infected with.
• Incur: to become subject to (something unpleasant as a result of one's own action).
• Fall into: to get into (a bad situation).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Mắc phải vận xui: to have a streak of bad luck.
  • Tuần này tôi mắc phải vận xui. (I've had a streak of bad luck this week.)
• Mắc phải tật xấu: to pick up a bad habit.
  • Đứa trẻ mắc phải tật nói dối. (The child picked up the habit of lying.)