Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Double-faced, two-faced: Describes a person who is deceitful, insincere, or who shows one attitude or intention to some people while hiding their true, often opposite, feelings or intentions from others.
   • Double-dealing, duplicitous: Refers to behaviour or actions that involve deliberate deception or treachery; being dishonest by pretending to feel or believe one thing while acting in a contrary manner.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ăn ở nhị tâm. (To lead a double-dealing life; to behave in a two-faced manner.)
  • Con người nhị tâm. (A double-faced person.)
  • Thái độ nhị tâm của anh ta khiến mọi người mất lòng tin. (His duplicitous attitude made everyone lose trust.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "nhị tâm" is often used in moral or ethical contexts to criticize a character flaw involving hypocrisy and betrayal. It implies a sustained pattern of deception rather than a single lie.

Variants and Related Words

• Hai lòng (adj): This is a more common synonym with the same meaning of being two-faced or disloyal.
  • Kẻ hai lòng. (A disloyal/double-dealing person.)

Synonyms

• Duplicitous: Deceitful in speech or conduct.
• Hypocritical: Behaving in a way that suggests one has higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case.
• Treacherous: Guilty of or involving betrayal or deception.
• Insincere: Not expressing genuine feelings.

Related Idioms

• Một mặt hai lòng: Literally "one face, two hearts"; an idiom describing deep duplicity and deceitfulness.
  • Hắn ta là kẻ một mặt hai lòng, không thể tin được. (He is a person of one face and two hearts, completely untrustworthy.)

1. Double-faced, double-dealing
   • Ăn ở nhị tâm
     A double-dealing behaviour
   • Con người nhị tâm
     A double-faced person