Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cherish and regret / to feel affectionate regret: A compound verb describing a complex emotional state combining fondness, affection, or love ("mến") with a sense of sorrow, regret, or longing ("tiếc") over a loss or absence. It implies missing someone or something dear.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cả gia đình vô cùng mến tiếc khi ông ấy qua đời. (The whole family deeply cherished and regretted him when he passed away.)
  • Chúng tôi mến tiếc người bạn cũ. (We feel affectionate regret for our old friend.)
  • Ai cũng mến tiếc thời sinh viên. (Everyone cherishes and regrets their student years.)

Advanced Usage

• Contextual Note: "Mến tiếc" is most commonly used in formal, respectful, or literary contexts, such as in eulogies, obituaries, or reflective writing about a lost person, era, or opportunity. It conveys a deeper, more poignant sentiment than simple missing ("nhớ").

Variants and Related Words

• Thương tiếc (v): To grieve and regret; to mourn. Often used interchangeably with "mến tiếc," especially regarding death, but can imply a stronger sense of grief.
• Luyến tiếc (v): To feel nostalgic regret; to be reluctant to part with. Often used for things, places, or past times.
• Mến (v): To be fond of; to like affectionately.
• Tiếc (v): To regret; to feel sorry about a loss or missed opportunity.

Synonyms

• To mourn affectionately: To feel sorrow for someone's loss while remembering them with fondness.
• To cherish the memory of: To hold dear the memory of someone or something lost.

Related Idioms

• Mến tiếc khôn nguôi: To have ceaseless affectionate regret.
  • Cộng đồng mến tiếc khôn nguôi vị lãnh tụ vĩ đại. (The community has ceaseless affectionate regret for the great leader.)