Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Contrary to reason or morality; unreasonable, absurd: Describes something that goes against common sense, logic, or ethical principles.
   • Bitterly ironic or cruel; perverse, tragic: Describes a situation, especially in life or love, that is unfairly harsh, twisted, or causes suffering due to cruel fate or irony.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Lời buộc tội đó thật ngang trái. (That accusation is utterly unreasonable/absurd.)
  • Họ gặp nhau trong một hoàn cảnh ngang trái. (They met under tragic/perverse circumstances.)
  • Số phận thật ngang trái khi chia cắt đôi tình nhân. (Fate was so cruel/perverse to separate the lovers.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used to describe unjust situations, illogical arguments, or twisted, painful outcomes in life narratives.
  • Câu chuyện kể về một mối tình ngang trái thời chiến tranh. (The story tells of a star-crossed/tragic love during the war.)
• Can modify abstract nouns like (reason), (fate), (life's circumstances), (love/situation).

Variants and Related Words

• Ngang ngược (adj): Stubbornly unreasonable, defiant. (Focuses more on defiant attitude than ironic tragedy).
• Trái ngang (adj): Essentially synonymous with 'ngang trái', also meaning perverse, contrary, unfair.
• Nghịch lý (n): Paradox. (Focuses on logical contradiction rather than moral or emotional unfairness).
• Éo le (adj): Bitter, thorny, complicated (often painful). Can be used similarly in contexts of difficult situations or love.

Synonyms

• Vô lý: Illogical, nonsensical.
• Trái lẽ: Contrary to reason.
• Bất công: Unjust, unfair (focuses on lack of justice).
• Bi thảm: Tragic (focuses on sorrow).

Related Phrases

• Cảnh ngang trái: A tragic/unfair situation.
• Duyên phận ngang trái: A star-crossed fate; a tragically opposed destiny (often in love).
• Lời lẽ ngang trái: Unreasonable/absurd words or arguments.

Related Idioms

• Oan gia ngõ hẹp: Refers to inevitable, often bitter, encounters between foes (shares the theme of cruel irony).
• Trái oan: To be wronged unjustly (shares the sense of unfair suffering).

1. worsensial; absurd