Definition

1. Noun:
   • Heart, mind, innermost feelings and thoughts: "ruột gan" refers to one's deepest emotions, thoughts, or conscience. It is a metaphorical term combining "intestines" (ruột) and "liver" (gan) to represent the seat of one's feelings and mind.
   • State of mind, mental state: It can also describe a person's current psychological or emotional condition.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy mở lòng, kể hết ruột gan của mình. (He opened up and told all his innermost feelings.)
  • Ruột gan tôi bối rối khi nghe tin đó. (My mind was troubled when I heard that news.)
  • Cô ấy ruột gan để đâu mà quên cả chìa khóa? (Where is her mind at that she forgot the keys? / How can she be so inattentive as to forget the keys?)

Advanced Usage

• "bộc lộ/giãi bày ruột gan": to pour out one's heart, to confide one's deepest feelings.
  • Trong bức thư, cô ấy đã giãi bày hết ruột gan. (In the letter, she poured out her entire heart.)
• "ruột gan nóng như lửa đốt": to be extremely anxious or worried (lit. one's innards are as hot as burning fire).
  • Chờ kết quả, ruột gan anh ấy nóng như lửa đốt. (Waiting for the results, he was burning with anxiety.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lòng dạ (n): Heart, mind, intention. A close synonym often used interchangeably with "ruột gan" to describe one's inner self.
  • Không biết lòng dạ họ thế nào. (I don't know what their true intentions are.)
• Tâm can (n): Heart and liver; mind, conscience. Another synonym with a similar metaphorical construction.
  • Câu nói đó khiến tâm can tôi day dứt. (That statement left my conscience troubled.)

Synonyms

• Tâm tư: Thoughts, feelings.
• Nỗi lòng: Inner feelings, heart.

Related Idioms

• "Ruột gan bối rối": To feel anxious, troubled, or confused in one's heart and mind.
  • Việc gia đình khiến cô ấy ruột gan bối rối. (Family matters made her feel deeply anxious.)
• "Ruột gan để đâu": To be absent-minded, inattentive, or distracted (lit. to have one's heart and mind placed somewhere else).
  • Làm việc mà ruột gan để đâu thì rất dễ sai sót. (If you work while your mind is elsewhere, it's easy to make mistakes.)

1. Heart, mind
   • Ruột gan bối rối
     To feel anxiety in one's heart
   • Ruột gan để đâu
     To be inattentive