Definition

1. Noun:
   • Situation, Circumstances: Refers to the specific, concrete state of affairs or set of conditions at a given time, often implying a degree of urgency, difficulty, or a need for action. It emphasizes the overall context and its implications for potential actions or outcomes.
   • Position, State: Denotes one's relative standing or condition within a particular context, often highlighting whether it is advantageous or disadvantageous.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Tình thế hiện nay rất phức tạp. (The current situation is very complex.)
  • Chúng ta đang ở trong một tình thế khó khăn. (We are in a difficult position.)
  • Anh ấy đã cứu vãn được tình thế. (He managed to salvage the situation.)
  • Tình thế buộc tôi phải hành động ngay. (The circumstances forced me to act immediately.)

Advanced Usage

• "lâm vào tình thế...": to fall into/get into a situation (often a difficult one).
  • Công ty đã lâm vào tình thế phá sản. (The company fell into a situation of bankruptcy.)
• "thế tình thế" / "tình thế thế": This structure is used for emphasis, meaning "such a situation" or "a situation like that".
  • Tình thế thế này thì khó mà giải quyết. (A situation like this is hard to resolve.)
• "tình thế bắt buộc": a compelling/inescapable situation; a situation that forces a specific action.
  • Đó là một quyết định trong tình thế bắt buộc. (That was a decision made under compelling circumstances.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tình hình (n): Situation, state of affairs. Often used more generally than "tình thế", with less inherent implication of urgency or a need for a response.
  • Tình hình kinh tế đang ổn định. (The economic situation is stabilizing.)
• Hoàn cảnh (n): Circumstances, conditions. Often refers to the personal or environmental conditions surrounding a person or event.
  • Cô ấy có một hoàn cảnh gia đình khó khăn. (She comes from difficult family circumstances.)
• Thế (n): Position, posture, stance. Can be part of compound words related to situation (e.g., thế sự - worldly affairs).
  • Anh ta đang ở thế bị động. (He is in a passive position.)

Synonyms

• Tình cảnh (n): Plight, predicament. Often used for difficult or pitiable situations.
• Cảnh ngộ (n): Circumstances, lot (in life). Slightly more literary.
• Vị thế (n): Position, standing. Focuses more on status or rank within a context.

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Phân tích tình thế: to analyze the situation.
  • Trước khi hành động, chúng ta cần phân tích tình thế. (Before acting, we need to analyze the situation.)
• Ứng phó với tình thế: to cope with/deal with the situation.
  • Chúng tôi đang tìm cách ứng phó với tình thế mới. (We are finding ways to cope with the new situation.)
• Tình thế chiến lược: strategic situation/position.
  • Tình thế chiến lược của quân ta rất thuận lợi. (Our army's strategic position is very favorable.)

Related Idioms

• "Túng thế": to be in a tight corner/spot; to be hard-pressed. (While "thế" alone is used, it conveys a similar meaning of a difficult situation).
  • Hắn đã bị dồn vào thế túng. (He was driven into a tight corner.)
• "Thế cùng lực tận": to be at the end of one's rope; to have exhausted all resources and options. (Emphasizes a desperate situation).
  • Công ty đang ở trong cảnh thế cùng lực tận. (The company is in a situation of being at the end of its rope.)

noun

1. situation