Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Lazy, slothful: Describes a person's character or behavior that shows a lack of desire or willingness to work, study, or exert effort.
   • Idle, indolent: Characterized by a tendency to avoid activity or work.

2. Verb (archaic/literary):

   • To catch a glimpse of, to see suddenly: To see someone or something briefly or unexpectedly, often from a distance. This usage is now considered literary or poetic.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Cậu học sinh này rất nhác. (This student is very lazy.)
  • Đừng có nhác việc nhà như thế. (Don't be so slothful with the housework.)
  • Tính nhác khiến nó học kém. (His laziness causes him to perform poorly in school.)

• Verb (archaic/literary):

  • Nhác thấy ai ở đằng xa. (To suddenly see someone in the distance.)
  • Bóng hồng nhác thấy nẻo xa. (To catch a glimpse of a beauty's silhouette in the far path.)

Advanced Usage

• "Nhác học": A compound meaning "lazy about studying" or "averse to studying." This is a common collocation.

  • Nó nhác học nên bị ở lại lớp. (He is averse to studying, so he was held back a grade.)

• "Nhác việc": A compound meaning "lazy about work" or "shirking duties."

  • Anh ta nhác việc nên thường bị khiển trách. (He shirks his duties, so he is often reprimanded.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lười (adj): The most common and direct synonym for "nhác" in its adjectival sense (lazy). "Lười" is more colloquial and widely used in everyday speech.
• Lười biếng (adj): A synonym meaning "lazy," often with a slightly stronger connotation of idleness.
• Lười nhác (adj): A compound combining "lười" and "nhác," used for emphasis to mean "very lazy" or "idle."
• Sự lười nhác (n): The noun form meaning "laziness," "sloth," or "idleness."

Synonyms

• Adjective: Lười, lười biếng, lười nhác, biếng nhác, đại lãn (literary).
• Verb (archaic): Thoáng thấy, chợt thấy, bắt gặp.

Notes on Usage

• As an adjective, "nhác" is used to describe a person's habitual laziness. It is less common in modern everyday conversation than "lười" but is still understood and used, often in more descriptive or formal contexts.
• The verbal usage ("to catch a glimpse of") is now primarily found in classical Vietnamese poetry (), literature, or fixed expressions. It is rarely used in contemporary spoken language.

1. See all of a sudden
   • Nhác thấy ai ở đằng xa
     To suddenly see someone at distance
2. Lazy,slothful