Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Sincere; honest: Describes a person who consistently speaks and acts with truthfulness, without deception or hidden motives. It emphasizes inner integrity and straightforwardness.
   • Candid; frank: Describes a manner of communication that is open, direct, and without pretense or evasion.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy là một người rất ngay thật. (He is a very honest person.)
  • Cô ấy trả lời một cách ngay thật. (She answered in a candid manner.)
  • Sống ngay thật với chính mình và với mọi người. (To live sincerely with oneself and with others.)

Advanced Usage

• "ngay thật thà": This is a common, slightly emphatic variant that reinforces the meaning of honesty and simplicity. It is often used in spoken language.
  • Bà ấy là người ngay thật thà, không biết nói dối. (She is a truly honest person who doesn't know how to lie.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngay thẳng (adj): Upright, righteous. Focuses more on moral rectitude and correct behavior.
  • một công chức ngay thẳng (an upright civil servant)
• Thật thà (adj): Honest, truthful. Often interchangeable with "ngay thật" but can sometimes imply a simpler, more guileless nature.
  • đứa trẻ thật thà (an honest child)
• Chân thật (adj): Genuine, authentic. Can describe things or feelings as well as people.
  • tình cảm chân thật (genuine feelings)
• Thành thật (adj): Frank, sincere. Often used in the context of admitting or confessing something.
  • thành thật nhận lỗi (to sincerely admit a mistake)

Synonyms

• Trung thực: Honest, truthful.
• Chất phác: Simple, unpretentious (often implies honesty stemming from simplicity).

Related Idioms

• "Ngay như ruột ngựa": (As straight as a horse's intestine) An idiom describing extreme straightforwardness and honesty, leaving no room for crookedness.
  • Tính anh ấy ngay như ruột ngựa, nói gì nghĩ đó. (His character is straight as an arrow, he says exactly what he thinks.)
• "Thẳng như ruột ngựa": A more common variant of the above idiom with the same meaning.
  • Cô ấy nói chuyện thẳng như ruột ngựa. (She speaks with blunt honesty.)

1. Sincere; honest; candid