Definition

1. Verb:
   • To decline; to deteriorate; to worsen: To move to a lower or less desirable state, condition, or level. It describes a gradual negative change over time.
   • To fall into (poverty or ruin): To experience a significant loss of wealth, status, or prosperity, leading to a state of hardship.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Sức khỏe của ông ấy đã sa sút nhiều. (His health has declined significantly.)
  • Công ty đó đang sa sút vì quản lý kém. (That company is deteriorating due to poor management.)
  • Cửa nhà sa sút sau chiến tranh. (The family's fortunes fell into ruin after the war.)

Advanced Usage

• "sa sút trí tuệ": a medical/psychological term for cognitive decline or dementia.
  • Căn bệnh dẫn đến sa sút trí tuệ. (The illness leads to cognitive decline.)

Variants and Related Words

• Suy sụp (v): to collapse, to break down (often more severe or sudden than "sa sút").

  • Tinh thần anh ấy suy sụp hoàn toàn. (His spirit completely collapsed.)

• Giảm sút (v): to decrease, to diminish (often used for measurable quantities like quality, results, or revenue).

  • Chất lượng sản phẩm có dấu hiệu giảm sút. (The product quality shows signs of decreasing.)

Synonyms

• Decline: to become weaker, smaller, or worse.
• Deteriorate: to become progressively worse.
• Worsen: to become more severe or serious.
• Fall into decay/ruin: to enter a state of disrepair or poverty.

Related Idioms

• Sa cơ lỡ vận: to fall on hard times, to have one's luck turn.
  • Gia đình sa cơ lỡ vận, từ giàu có trở nên túng thiếu. (The family fell on hard times, going from wealthy to needy.)

1. to fall down, to decline
   • cửa nhà sa sút
     to fall into poverty
   • sức khỏe sa sút
     health declines