Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Humiliating, full of humiliation: Describes a state, situation, or life filled with shame, degradation, or indignity. It conveys a sense of enduring hardship that is demeaning to one's dignity.
   • Harsh, bitter, full of suffering: Often used to describe a difficult, painful existence marked by struggle and deprivation.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Kiếp sống nhục nhằn của người nông dân nghèo. (The humiliating/harsh life of the poor farmer.)
  • Anh ấy đã trải qua một thời kỳ nhục nhằn trong tù. (He went through a humiliating/bitter period in prison.)
  • Công việc đó thật nhục nhằn và vất vả. (That job is truly demeaning and arduous.)

Advanced Usage

• "Nhục nhằn" is a strong, evocative word often used in literary, narrative, or emotional contexts to emphasize the depth of suffering and loss of dignity. It is more intense than simply "khó khăn" (difficult).
• It can describe both physical hardship and psychological shame.

Variants and Related Words

• Nhục (n/adj): Shame, disgrace; humiliating. The core root of "nhục nhằn," focusing more on the shame aspect.
  • Chịu nhục: To endure humiliation.
• Nhọc nhằn (adj): Arduous, toilsome, laborious. A close synonym that emphasizes physical hardship and fatigue more than shame.
  • Công việc nhọc nhằn: Arduous work.
• Cực nhọc (adj): Hard, strenuous. Similar to "nhọc nhằn."

Synonyms

• Tủi nhục: Humiliating and sorrowful (combines sadness with shame).
• Đau khổ: Painful, suffering.
• Cay đắng: Bitter (often used for emotional bitterness).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Nếm trải nhục nhằn": To taste/experience humiliation and hardship.
  • Ông ấy đã nếm trải đủ mọi nhục nhằn của cuộc đời. (He has tasted all the bitterness and humiliation of life.)
• "Kiếp người nhục nhằn": A humiliating human existence.
  • Thơ ông viết về kiếp người nhục nhằn. (His poetry writes about the humiliating human condition.)

1. Humiliatory
   • Kiếp sống nhục nhằn
     A humiliatory life