quái tượng
Definition
- Noun:
- Monstrosity / Monster: A creature or being that is grossly malformed, unnatural, or terrifying in appearance, often inspiring fear or dread.
- Teratism (Medical): A severe congenital abnormality or physical malformation; a monstrous birth defect.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Truyền thuyết kể về một quái tượng sống trong hang động. (The legend tells of a monster living in the cave.)
- Các bác sĩ mô tả ca bệnh là một quái tượng y học hiếm gặp. (The doctors described the case as a rare medical teratism.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in formal, literary, or medical contexts. In modern conversational Vietnamese, words like "quái vật" are more common for "monster," while "quái tượng" retains a more technical or classical nuance.
Variants and Related Words
Quái vật (n): Monster, creature. A more common and general term for a monster.
- Đứa trẻ sợ quái vật trong tủ quần áo. (The child is afraid of the monster in the closet.)
Dị tượng (n): Omen, portent. Refers to a strange or abnormal phenomenon, often seen as a sign.
- Dị dạng (n): Deformity, malformation. A general term for a physical abnormality.
Synonyms
- Monster: An imaginary creature that is typically large, ugly, and frightening.
- Freak: A person, animal, or plant with a physical abnormality (can be derogatory).
- Teratism: (Medical) A congenital malformation or monstrosity.
Notes on Usage
- "Quái tượng" is a relatively rare and formal word. Its usage often implies something profoundly unnatural and shocking, beyond a simple strange creature. The medical definition is highly specialized.
- Avoid using this term to describe people in casual contexts, as it is extremely offensive.