Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Diabolical; wicked; evil: Possessing or showing extreme cruelty, malice, or a twisted, monstrous nature. It describes actions, characters, or phenomena that are profoundly and often shockingly evil.
   • Cunningly cruel; fiendishly clever: Suggests not only malice but also a shrewd, deceptive, or treacherous intelligence in carrying out wicked acts.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Hắn ta là một kẻ thật sự quái ác. (He is a truly diabolical character.)
  • Âm mưu của chúng thật quái ác. (Their plot was fiendishly wicked.)
  • Bão tàn phá ngôi làng với một sức mạnh quái ác. (The storm destroyed the village with a monstrous force.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe abstract concepts or forces that feel maliciously oppressive.
  • Số phận quái ác đã cướp đi người con trai duy nhất của bà. (A cruel fate took away her only son.)

Variants and Related Words

• Quỷ quái (adj): Devilish; fiendish. Often implies trickery and deceit alongside malice.

  • Nó có những ý đồ quỷ quái. (It has devilish intentions.)

• Độc ác (adj): Cruel; vicious. Shares the meaning of cruelty but may not always carry the same connotation of monstrous or supernatural wickedness as quái ác.

Synonyms

• Diabolical: Characteristic of the devil; outrageously wicked.
• Fiendish: Extremely cruel or unpleasant; devilish.
• Monstrous: Horribly or shockingly evil or wrong.
• Malicious: Characterized by malice; intending to do harm.

Related Idioms

• Lòng dạ quái ác: A diabolical heart; refers to a person with an innately wicked and cruel nature.

  • Đừng tin hắn, hắn có lòng dạ quái ác. (Don't trust him; he has a diabolical heart.)

• Trò quái ác: A diabolical/fiendish trick or act.

  • Trò quái ác đó không thể tha thứ được. (That diabolical trick is unforgivable.)

1. Diabolic
   • Trò quái ác
     Diabolic trick