Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Feeling sorrowful or bitter about one's lot in life: To experience sadness, self-pity, or a sense of grievance due to one's perceived unfortunate fate, lowly position, or circumstances.
   • To feel one's fate is pitiable: A state of melancholic reflection where one considers their own destiny or social standing to be inferior, unfortunate, or deserving of sympathy.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cô ấy ngồi một mình, lòng đầy tủi phận. (She sat alone, her heart full of sorrow about her lot.)
  • Nghĩ đến thân phận mình, anh ta không khỏi tủi phận. (Thinking of his own station in life, he couldn't help but feel bitter about his fate.)
  • Đừng tủi phận, hãy cố gắng vươn lên. (Don't dwell in self-pity; try to rise up.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "tủi phận" often carries a nuanced, poetic connotation of resigned sadness rather than active anger. It is frequently used in literature and introspective speech to describe a deep, personal sense of melancholy regarding one's predetermined social or personal destiny.

Variants and Related Words

• Tủi thân (adj): to feel sorry for oneself, often in a more immediate or personal context than "tủi phận."

  • Nghe những lời chê bai, cô bé tủi thân bật khóc. (Hearing the criticism, the little girl felt sorry for herself and burst into tears.)

• Phận (n): fate, lot, destiny, station in life. This is the root noun that combines with "tủi" to form the concept.

Synonyms

• Self-pitying: indulging in pity for oneself.
• Resentful of one's lot: feeling bitterness about one's situation.
• Fate-sorrowful: (conceptual) sorrowful regarding one's destiny.

Related Idioms and Concepts

• Tủi phận hờn duyên: to feel sorrowful about one's fate and resentful about one's romantic destiny. A common literary theme expressing a dual lament.

  • Trong thơ ca, người phụ nữ thường mang nỗi tủi phận hờn duyên. (In poetry, women often carry the sorrow of fate and resentment of love.)

• Thân phận: (noun phrase) one's status, condition, or lot in life. This is the state that one might feel "tủi" about.

  • Thân phận của người lao động nghèo. (The lot of the poor laborer.)