Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Good-looking, having a fine outward appearance: "tốt mã" describes something or someone that appears attractive, handsome, or impressive on the outside. It often carries a critical nuance, implying that the external beauty is superficial and may not reflect the true, often inferior, inner quality or substance.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Con gà trống này trông rất tốt mã. (This rooster looks very good-looking.)
  • Đừng mua chiếc xe đó, nó chỉ tốt mã thôi, bên trong có nhiều vấn đề. (Don't buy that car; it's only good-looking on the outside, but has many problems inside.)
  • Anh ta là người tốt mã nhưng tính tình không tốt. (He is a good-looking person but has a bad temper.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is frequently used in a derogatory or cautionary context to highlight a disparity between attractive appearance and poor actual quality. It warns against being deceived by looks.
  • Đồ tốt mã giẻ cùi. (Something that is good-looking but is actually worthless rags.) This is a common, proverbial phrase emphasizing the critique.

Variants and Related Words

• Hào nhoáng (adj): Flashy, showy. Shares the connotation of impressive appearance masking lesser substance, but can imply intentional ostentation.
• Bề ngoài (n): The outside, appearance. Often used in phrases like "chỉ có bề ngoài" (only has the appearance) which is similar in meaning to "tốt mã".

Synonyms

• Đẹp mã: Beautiful in appearance (can be neutral or carry a similar critical nuance as "tốt mã").
• Bảnh bao: Smart, dapper (usually for men's attire/appearance, often neutral or slightly positive).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Tốt mã giẻ cùi: Literally "good-looking rags". A fixed idiom meaning something or someone that looks attractive but is utterly worthless or of poor quality inside.
  • Công ty đó chỉ là tốt mã giẻ cùi, tài chính rất yếu. (That company is just good-looking on the outside like worthless rags; its finances are very weak.)

adj

1. good - looking