Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To offend; to hurt someone's feelings: The primary meaning of "mất lòng" is to cause someone to feel displeased, upset, or resentful, often by an action or remark that goes against their wishes or sensibilities.
   • To displease; to cause discontent: It describes an action that results in someone's dissatisfaction or unhappiness.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Tôi không muốn mất lòng ai. (I don't want to offend anyone.)
  • Câu nói đó có thể làm mất lòng bạn bè. (That statement could hurt your friends' feelings.)
  • Chính sách mới làm mất lòng một số nhân viên. (The new policy displeased some employees.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used in the context of social harmony, highlighting a conflict between honesty or necessity and maintaining good relationships.
• "Làm mất lòng": a common construction meaning "to cause offense to" or "to displease."
  • Anh ấy vô tình làm mất lòng khách hàng. (He unintentionally displeased the customer.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thất lòng (verb phrase): A less common, more literary synonym meaning to disappoint or to fail someone's expectations, leading to their sadness.

Synonyms

• Offend: to cause someone to feel upset, annoyed, or resentful.
• Upset: to make someone unhappy, disappointed, or worried.
• Displease: to cause someone to feel annoyed or unsatisfied.
• Vex: to make someone feel annoyed or worried (more formal).

Related Idioms

• Nói thật mất lòng: (proverb) Literally "telling the truth loses hearts," meaning that honesty can offend or hurt feelings.
  • Đôi khi phải nói thật mất lòng. (Sometimes you have to tell the truth, even if it offends.)