nát nước
Definition
- Adjective (Informal):
- Extremely crushed, pulverized, or mashed: Describes something that has been broken down into very small, soft, or wet pieces, often beyond recognition or to a state of mush. It implies a more intense degree of destruction than just "nát" (crushed).
- Utterly defeated, devastated, or ruined: Used figuratively to describe a person or team that has been completely and thoroughly beaten, both physically and in spirit.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Quả cà chua bị rơi xuống đất, giờ đã nát nước. (The tomato fell to the ground and is now completely pulverized.)
- Sau trận đấu thua 10-0, tinh thần đội bóng tan nát nước. (After losing the match 10-0, the team's morale was utterly devastated.)
- Lá cây bị cơn bão làm nát nước. (The leaves were mashed to a pulp by the storm.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used for dramatic emphasis. It can describe physical objects (like food or materials) or abstract concepts (like plans, hopes, or morale) that have been completely destroyed.
Variants and Related Words
- Nát (adj): crushed, mashed, broken into pieces. "Nát nước" is a more emphatic, informal variant.
- Bánh mì bị nát trong túi. (The bread was crushed in the bag.)
Synonyms
- Pulverized: reduced to fine particles.
- Mashed: crushed into a soft, wet mass.
- Devastated: completely destroyed or overwhelmed (figurative).
- Shattered: broken violently into pieces; utterly defeated (figurative).
Related Idioms
- Tan nát nước: An even stronger form, meaning completely and utterly shattered or devastated, often referring to emotions or states of being.
- Nghe tin dữ, trái tim cô ấy tan nát nước. (Upon hearing the bad news, her heart was completely shattered.)
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như nát
