Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Contemptuous of the world, disdainful of society: "ngạo đời" describes an attitude of looking down upon or showing scorn for conventional society, its values, or people in general. It implies a sense of superiority and aloofness from worldly affairs or common people.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ta có vẻ ngạo đời, ít khi chịu giao tiếp với mọi người. (He seems contemptuous of the world, rarely willing to interact with others.)
  • Phong cách sống ngạo đời của nhà thơ ấy thể hiện rõ trong thơ của ông. (That poet's disdainful lifestyle is clearly reflected in his poetry.)

Advanced Usage

• "thái độ ngạo đời": a contemptuous/disdainful attitude.

  • Thái độ ngạo đời của hắn khiến hắn bị cô lập. (His contemptuous attitude caused him to be isolated.)

• "sống ngạo đời": to live in a way that shows contempt for worldly norms.

  • Ông ấy chọn sống ngạo đời, xa lánh chốn phồn hoa. (He chose to live a life of contempt for the world, far from the bustling society.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngạo (adj): arrogant, haughty. This is the root word, often used similarly but can be more general.

  • Anh ấy có vẻ ngạo mạn. (He seems arrogant.)

• Ngạo nghễ (adj): defiantly proud, haughtily arrogant. This variant emphasizes a proud, unyielding stance.

  • Dáng đứng ngạo nghễ. (A defiantly proud posture.)

Synonyms

• Kiêu ngạo: arrogant, proud.
• Khinh đời: to despise the world/people.
• Coi thường: to look down upon, to despise (more general, less literary).

Notes on Meaning

• Nuance: "Ngạo đời" carries a strong literary or philosophical connotation. It often describes an intellectual or artistic disdain for mundane societal values, not just simple arrogance. It suggests a deliberate choice to stand apart from and scorn the common ways of the world.
• Difference from "ngạo": While "ngạo" means arrogant, "ngạo đời" specifies that the arrogance or contempt is directed at "đời" (life, the world, society).

1. Show contempt of others, be contemptuous