Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To ruin one's family: To cause the destruction or severe damage to one's family's fortune, property, or social standing, typically through reckless or immoral behavior.
   • To squander the family wealth: To waste or deplete the family's assets and inheritance.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Anh ta cờ bạc và rượu chè đến mức phá gia. (He gambled and drank to the point of ruining his family.)
  • Hành vi phung phí của người con trai cả đã phá gia. (The extravagant behavior of the eldest son squandered the family wealth.)

Advanced Usage

• "phá gia chi tử": A set phrase meaning "a prodigal son" or literally "a child who ruins the family". It strongly implies a son whose actions bring disgrace and financial ruin upon his family.
  • Trong câu chuyện, nhân vật chính bị coi là một phá gia chi tử. (In the story, the main character is considered a prodigal son.)

Variants and Related Words

• Phá sản (v): To go bankrupt (refers to a business or individual's finances, not specifically the family unit).
• Phá hủy (v): To destroy (general term for physical destruction).
• Tan gia bại sản (idiom): A more elaborate idiom with a similar meaning, "to see one's family broken and assets lost".

Synonyms

• Làm tan nát gia đình: To shatter/destroy the family.
• Tiêu tán gia sản: To dissipate the family fortune.

Related Idioms

• Phá gia chi tử: As mentioned above, this is the most common and direct idiom, specifically denoting the person (the son) who causes the ruin.
• Con nhà lính, tính nhà quan: (Lit: A soldier's child with a mandarin's attitude). An idiom criticizing someone who lives extravagantly beyond their means, which can lead to .

1. Ruin one's family
   • Phá gia chi tử
     A bad son who ruins his family