Definition

1. Adjective:
   • To be looked down upon; to be held in low esteem: Describes a state of being treated with contempt, disrespect, or considered as having little value or importance.
   • To be slighted; to be treated cheaply: Refers to the act of being undervalued or treated in a dismissive manner.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cô ấy cảm thấy bị rẻ rúng trong mối quan hệ đó. (She felt looked down upon in that relationship.)
  • Đừng rẻ rúng tình cảm của người khác. (Don't treat other people's affection cheaply.)
  • Anh ta rẻ rúng những lời khuyên chân thành. (He held the sincere advice in contempt.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often describes a subjective feeling of being disrespected or the objective act of treating someone/something as worthless. It conveys a stronger emotional weight than simply "coi thường" (to despise), often implying a sense of personal humiliation or devaluation.

Variants and Related Words

• Rẻ mạt (adj): Cheap, vile, contemptible. Often used for objects or actions considered morally low.
  • Lời nói rẻ mạt. (Vile words.)
• Khinh rẻ (v): To despise, to look down on. A verb form focusing on the action of contempt.
  • Không nên khinh rẻ người nghèo. (One should not despise the poor.)

Synonyms

• Despise: To feel contempt or a deep repugnance for.
• Look down on: To regard someone as inferior.
• Slight: To treat someone with indifference or disrespect.
• Hold cheap: To consider as having little worth.

Related Idioms

• Rẻ như bèo: As cheap as duckweed. An idiom meaning extremely cheap or worthless in a monetary or figurative sense.
  • Mấy món đồ này bán rẻ như bèo. (These items are sold dirt cheap.)
• This idiom relates to the core concept of rẻ rúng by emphasizing a perceived lack of value.

1. Think little of, slight, hold cheap