Definition

1. Adjective (Tính từ):
   • Offensive to the eye, unsightly: Used to describe something that is visually unpleasant, ugly, or irritating to look at.
   • An eyesore: Something that is considered ugly enough to be a nuisance to the sight.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cái bức tranh đó thật rác mắt. (That painting is really offensive to the eye.)
  • Mấy tòa nhà bỏ hoang trông rất rác mắt. (Those abandoned buildings look very unsightly.)
  • Đừng mặc bộ đồ màu sắc loè loẹt ấy, trông rác mắt lắm. (Don't wear that gaudy outfit; it looks very unpleasant to the eye.)

Advanced Usage

• "gây rác mắt": to cause visual offense, to be an eyesore.
  • Việc xả rác bừa bãi gây rác mắt cho cả khu phố. (Littering indiscriminately is an eyesore for the whole neighborhood.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhức mắt (adj): Literally "eye-aching," can sometimes overlap in meaning to describe something glaringly bright or visually irritating, though it more strongly implies causing physical eye strain.
• Khó coi (adj): Unpleasant to look at, unsightly. This is a more common and slightly less vulgar synonym.

Synonyms

• Unsightly: Not pleasant to look at; ugly.
• An eyesore: A thing that is very ugly, especially a building or other structure.
• Offensive to the eye: Causing displeasure or disgust through sight.

Notes on Usage

• Register: The term "rác mắt" is considered colloquial and somewhat vulgar. It is stronger and more emotionally charged than neutral terms like "khó coi" (unsightly).
• Connotation: It carries a sense of disgust or strong disapproval, implying that the sight is as unpleasant and worthless as trash ("rác").
• Context: Typically used in informal speech to criticize the appearance of objects, scenes, or sometimes even actions and behaviors that are visually unappealing.

1. (thông tục) Offend the eye