Definition

Verb Phrase: - To remember with deep regret; to miss with a sense of loss: A compound feeling combining nostalgia ("nhớ" - to miss, to remember) and regret or sorrow ("tiếc" - to regret, to feel sorry about something lost). It describes a poignant, affectionate longing for someone or something that is gone, often implying that their absence is a profound loss.

Usage Examples

• Verb Phrase:
  • Mọi người đều nhớ tiếc con người tài hoa ấy. (Everyone remembers with deep regret that talented person.)
  • Bà ấy luôn nhớ tiếc người bạn đã khuất. (She always misses her departed friend with a sense of loss.)
  • Họ nhớ tiếc thời thanh xuân đã qua. (They remember their lost youth with deep regret.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is most commonly used in reflective or eulogistic contexts, often related to remembering deceased individuals, past eras, or lost opportunities with a tone of respectful sorrow.
• It conveys a more profound and layered emotion than simply "nhớ" (to miss) or "tiếc" (to regret) alone.

Variants and Related Words

• Nhớ thương (v): to miss with affection; to remember fondly. (Focuses more on loving memory than regret.)
• Thương tiếc (v): to mourn; to grieve for; to feel sorrow and regret for. (Often used in obituaries; stronger emphasis on mourning.)
• Hối tiếc (v): to regret; to feel remorse. (Focuses primarily on personal remorse for one's own actions, not nostalgic longing.)

Synonyms

• To mourn: to feel or express deep sorrow, especially for someone who has died.
• To lament: to express passionate grief or regret.
• To pine for: to yearn intensely and persistently, especially for something lost.

Related Idioms

• While "nhớ tiếc" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it encapsulates the sentiment found in expressions like:
  • Tiếc thương người đã khuất: To mourn and miss the deceased.
  • Nhớ tiếc một thời đã qua: To nostalgically regret a bygone era.

1. Think with deep regret of
   • Nhớ tiếc con người tài hoa
     To think with deep of a talented person