Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To spare someone's feelings: To act with consideration to avoid hurting or upsetting someone, often by not saying or doing something critical, harsh, or disappointing.
   • To do something out of regard for someone's feelings: To accommodate a request or change one's behavior due to respect, pity, or affection for another person.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Tôi nể lòng cô ấy nên không từ chối lời mời. (I spared her feelings so I didn't refuse the invitation.)
  • Anh ấy nể lòng mẹ già mà về quê sống. (Out of regard for his elderly mother's feelings, he returned to his hometown to live.)
  • Đừng nể lòng hắn, hãy nói sự thật. (Don't spare his feelings; tell the truth.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often implies a conflict between what is objectively correct or desired and a compassionate, softer action taken to avoid emotional harm.
• It is commonly used in contexts involving refusal, criticism, or enforcement of rules, where leniency is shown due to personal connection or sympathy.

Variants and Related Words

• Nể mặt (verb phrase): To show respect for someone's face/status; to do something out of respect for someone's position or reputation, which is related but focuses more on social standing than on emotional sparing.
  • Nể mặt sếp, anh ta đồng ý dự tiệc. (Out of respect for his boss, he agreed to attend the party.)

Synonyms

• To spare someone's feelings.
• To have consideration for.
• To show mercy to (in an emotional context).
• To accommodate (out of pity/respect).

Related Idioms

• Nể tình nể nghĩa: To act out of regard for affection and obligation; to consider the bonds of relationship and duty.
  • Chỉ vì nể tình nể nghĩa lâu năm mà ông ấy nể lòng giúp họ. (It was only out of regard for long-standing affection and duty that he spared their feelings and helped them.)

1. Spare (somebody's feelings)