tứ đổ tường

Definition
  1. Noun (Proper Noun):
    • The Four Social Vices / The Four Walls of Doom: A traditional Vietnamese idiom referring to the four major vices or corrupting behaviors in feudal and colonial society: gambling ("cờ bạc"), alcohol abuse ("rượu chè"), opium smoking ("thuốc phiện" or "thuốc xái"), and prostitution/lechery ("bợm đĩ" or "đĩ điếm"). The term metaphorically describes these vices as "walls" that trap and destroy a person's morality, health, and fortune.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • "Tứ đổ tường" là một cụm từ cũ mô tả những tệ nạn xã hội nghiêm trọng. ("Tứ đổ tường" is an old phrase describing serious social vices.)
    • Trong xã hội phong kiến, nhiều gia đình tan cửa nát nhà vì "tứ đổ tường". (In feudal society, many families were ruined because of the "four walls of doom".)
Advanced Usage
  • The term is primarily used in historical, literary, or moralistic contexts to critique social decay. It is less common in modern daily conversation but remains a powerful cultural reference.
  • It can be used metaphorically in modern contexts to criticize a set of interconnected bad habits or destructive behaviors.
Variants and Related Words
  • Tệ nạn xã hội (n): Social evils. A modern, general term for social vices.
    • Cờ bạc và ma túy là những tệ nạn xã hội nguy hiểm. (Gambling and drugs are dangerous social evils.)
  • Cờ bạc (n): Gambling.
  • Rượu chè (n): Alcohol abuse, excessive drinking.
  • Thuốc phiện (n): Opium.
  • Bợm đĩ (n): Lechers and prostitutes; debauchery.
Synonyms
  • The Four Great Vices: A direct descriptive synonym.
  • Social Corruptions: A general term for morally destructive societal behaviors.
  • Cardinal Vices: In a broader ethical sense, though not a direct translation.
Related Idioms
  • Tan cửa nát nhà: (Literally: house and door shattered) To be completely ruined, often financially and socially. This idiom is frequently associated with the consequences of succumbing to the "tứ đổ tường".
    • Sa vào "tứ đổ tường", con người dễ đến cảnh tan cửa nát nhà. (Falling into the "four walls of doom", a person can easily be brought to ruin.)