Definition

1. Noun:
   • A frank and straightforward character; a person who is honest and direct, speaking their mind without guile or hidden motives. This is a figurative meaning derived from the literal "horse's intestine," referencing its perceived straightness. It describes a personality trait.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy là người thẳng ruột ngựa, không bao giờ nói xấu sau lưng. (He is a frank and straightforward person, never speaking ill of others behind their backs.)
  • Tính ruột ngựa của cô ấy đôi khi khiến cô ấy mất lòng người khác. (Her blunt honesty sometimes offends people.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase "thẳng ruột ngựa" (literally: straight like a horse's intestine), which functions as an adjective phrase meaning "frank," "direct," or "straightforward."
  • Bà ấy nói chuyện rất thẳng ruột ngựa. (She speaks very frankly and directly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thẳng thắn (adj): frank, candid, straightforward. This is a more common synonym.
  • Anh ấy rất thẳng thắn trong góp ý. (He is very frank in giving feedback.)

Synonyms

• Frank: open, honest, and direct in speech or attitude.
• Straightforward: uncomplicated and direct.
• Candid: truthful and straightforward; frank.
• Blunt: uncompromisingly forthright.

Related Idioms

• "Thẳng ruột ngựa": This is the core idiom. It is used to describe a person's character or manner of speaking.
  • Tôi thích làm việc với người thẳng ruột ngựa. (I like working with frank and direct people.)