Definition

1. Noun:
   • Social evil: A harmful practice or widespread problem that negatively impacts society and its members. This is the primary and most common meaning.
   • Vice / Scourge: A serious moral fault or a cause of great trouble and suffering for a community.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ma túy là một tệ nạn nguy hiểm. (Drugs are a dangerous social evil.)
  • Chính phủ đang nỗ lực bài trừ các tệ nạn xã hội. (The government is striving to eradicate social evils.)
  • Tham nhũng được coi là một tệ nạn cần xóa bỏ. (Corruption is considered a scourge that needs to be eliminated.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost always used in the context of society, hence the common phrase "tệ nạn xã hội" (social evil/social vice). While "tệ nạn" can stand alone, it inherently implies a social problem.
  • Công tác phòng chống tệ nạn xã hội là ưu tiên hàng đầu. (The work of preventing social evils is a top priority.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tệ (adj/n): Bad, poor; a bad practice or custom. "Tệ nạn" is a stronger, more formal compound of this word.
  • Thói quen đó thật tệ. (That habit is really bad.)

Synonyms

• Social evil: A practice that is harmful to society.
• Scourge: A cause of widespread affliction.
• Vice: Immoral or wicked behavior.

Related Idioms

• While "tệ nạn" itself is not typically part of idioms, it is central to many fixed phrases describing societal issues.
  • Tệ nạn trộm cắp: The scourge of theft.
  • Tệ nạn cờ bạc: The vice of gambling.