Definition

1. Adjective:
   • To decline / to deteriorate: Describes a state of becoming worse, lower, or weaker compared to a previous condition. It refers to a reduction in quality, ability, intensity, or level.
   • To diminish / to wane: Indicates a decrease in strength, influence, or capacity.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Sức khỏe của ông ấy đã sút kém nhiều. (His health has deteriorated a lot.)
  • Chất lượng dịch vụ tại khách sạn này bị sút kém. (The service quality at this hotel has declined.)
  • Ảnh hưởng chính trị của đảng đó đang sút kém. (The political influence of that party is waning.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe abstract qualities like health, morale, memory, performance, quality, or influence.
  • Tinh thần làm việc sút kém sau tin đồn. (Work morale deteriorated after the rumors.)
  • Kỹ năng chuyên môn có thể sút kém nếu không luyện tập. (Professional skills can diminish if not practiced.)

Variants and Related Words

• Suy giảm (v): to decline, to diminish. Often used in more formal or technical contexts.

  • Sự suy giảm kinh tế. (Economic decline.)

• Giảm sút (v/n): to decrease, to drop; a decrease. Can be used similarly, often focusing on a measurable drop.

  • Lợi nhuận giảm sút. (Profits decreased.)

Synonyms

• Deteriorate: to become progressively worse.
• Decline: to decrease in quality, quantity, or strength.
• Wane: to decrease in vigor, power, or extent.
• Diminish: to make or become less.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Sút kém tinh thần: a decline in morale.

  • Đội bóng chơi sút kém tinh thần sau bàn thua. (The team played with diminished morale after conceding a goal.)

• Sút kém trí nhớ: failing memory / memory that is declining.

  • Người cao tuổi thường than phiền về việc sút kém trí nhớ. (Elderly people often complain about failing memory.)