mềm lòng
Definition
- Adjective (describing a state of mind or feeling):
- To soften one's heart / to be moved to compassion: The primary meaning of "mềm lòng" is to have one's initial firmness, resolve, or anger soften, typically due to pity, sympathy, or emotional persuasion.
- To relent / to yield: It describes the act of giving in to a request or changing a strict decision because one feels touched or sorry.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Thấy nó khóc, tôi không thể không mềm lòng. (Seeing him cry, I couldn't help but soften my heart.)
- Cuối cùng bố cũng mềm lòng cho tôi đi chơi. (Finally, Dad relented and let me go out.)
- Lời xin lỗi chân thành của cô ấy khiến ai cũng mềm lòng. (Her sincere apology made everyone relent.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often describes a change in attitude or decision after witnessing something emotionally compelling. It is frequently used in contexts involving pleas, apologies, or displays of vulnerability.
Variants and Related Words
- Mềm lòng trước (v): to soften one's heart before / to be moved by.
- Anh ấy đã mềm lòng trước những lời cầu xin của đứa trẻ. (He softened his heart before the child's pleas.)
Synonyms
- Relent: to abandon a harsh intention or strict decision.
- Yield: to give way to persuasion or emotion.
- Be moved / Have one's heart softened: to feel compassion that changes one's stance.
Related Idioms
- Mềm nắn rắn buông: (lit. soft when squeezed, hard when released) This idiom describes an inconsistent or weak-willed person who is easily persuaded or changes their mind under pressure, closely related to the concept of "mềm lòng."
- Đừng có kiểu mềm nắn rắn buông như thế. (Don't be so weak-willed and easily swayed like that.)