Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Disgraceful; ignominious; shameful: Describes an action, event, or situation that causes a profound loss of respect, honor, or dignity, bringing deep shame and humiliation. It implies a sense of being dishonorable or contemptible.

Usage

• As an adjective: Used to modify a noun, describing the shameful nature of an action, event, or state.
  • Một thất bại nhục nhã. (A disgraceful defeat.)
  • Cảm thấy nhục nhã. (To feel ashamed/humiliated.)
• Common collocations: Often used with words like (defeat), (action), (death), (feeling), (the state of).

Usage Examples

• Describing an event:
  • Đội tuyển phải chịu một thất bại nhục nhã trên sân nhà. (The team suffered a disgraceful defeat on their home ground.)
• Describing a feeling or state:
  • Anh ấy không thể chịu đựng được cảm giác nhục nhã. (He could not bear the feeling of humiliation.)
• Describing an action:
  • Hành động phản bội đó thật nhục nhã. (That act of betrayal was truly ignominious.)

Advanced Usage

• In formal or literary contexts: Used to emphasize the depth of dishonor, often in historical, political, or moral commentary.
  • Một trang sử nhục nhã của dân tộc. (A shameful page in the nation's history.)
• "nhục nhã ê chề": An intensified phrase meaning "utterly and deeply humiliated."
  • Sau vụ bê bối, ông ta ra đi trong nhục nhã ê chề. (After the scandal, he left in utter disgrace.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhục (n/adj): Shame, disgrace; dishonorable. A root word conveying shame.
  • Làm nhục (to humiliate/disgrace someone).
• Nhục nhằn (adj): Arduous, full of hardship and suffering (different meaning, but sometimes confused due to similar sound).
• Ô nhục (adj): Disgraceful, dishonorable (often used in similar contexts but can sound more formal or literary).

Synonyms

• Xấu hổ: Ashamed, embarrassed (often for lighter, more personal situations).
• Hổ thẹn: Ashamed, feeling shame (carries a moral weight).
• Tủi nhục: Feeling humiliated and wretched (emphasizes the miserable feeling).
• Đê hèn: Base, vile, despicable (focuses on low moral character).

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• Chịu nhục: To endure humiliation/to swallow one's pride.
  • Để giữ hòa khí, anh ấy đành chịu nhục. (To keep the peace, he had to swallow his pride.)
• Nhục nhã như chó: (Simile) Ashamed as a dog; meaning deeply and utterly humiliated.
  • Sau khi bị phát hiện, hắn cảm thấy nhục nhã như chó. (After being exposed, he felt deeply ashamed.)

Notes on Meaning

• Core Feeling: The word strongly conveys an external or internal sense of dishonor and loss of face that is often public or deeply felt.
• Difference from "xấu hổ": While generally means "ashamed/embarrassed" and can be used for minor social blunders, implies a much deeper, more severe, and often moral or social disgrace.
• Subjectivity: What is considered can be subjective and culturally influenced, often tied to concepts of honor and social standing.

adj

1. disgraceful; ignominious; shameful