Definition

1. Adjective (colloquial, often used in the phrase "tưởng bở"):
   • To be naively optimistic; to have wishful thinking: To mistakenly believe that something is very easy, will go smoothly, or will bring an undeserved windfall, often leading to disappointment when reality proves otherwise. It implies a sense of being gullible or having unrealistic expectations.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Đừng có tưởng bở mà nghĩ việc đó dễ làm. (Don't be naively optimistic and think that job is easy to do.)
  • Nó tưởng bở là sẽ được thăng chức. (He had wishful thinking that he would get promoted.)
  • Tôi tưởng bở là anh ấy sẽ giúp đỡ. (I mistakenly believed he would help.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase "tưởng bở". It functions as a predicate adjective, typically following a subject to describe a state of mistaken, optimistic assumption.
• It carries a mildly vulgar or strongly informal connotation, often used for chiding or mocking someone's unrealistic expectations.

Variants and Related Words

• Ảo tưởng (n): illusion, delusion. A more formal, neutral term for a false belief.
  • Anh ta đang sống trong ảo tưởng. (He is living in an illusion.)

Synonyms

• To be under an illusion: To believe something that is not true.
• To have wishful thinking: Believing something because you wish it were true, not based on evidence.
• To be gullible: Easily persuaded to believe something.

Related Idioms

• Tưởng dễ như ăn cháo: To think it's as easy as eating porridge (to think something is very easy).
  • Hắn tưởng dễ như ăn cháo nên mới nhận lời. (He thought it was a piece of cake so he agreed.)