thất đức

Definition

Adjective:
- Unrighteous; immoral; lacking virtue: Describes actions or behavior that violate moral principles, are unethical, or are considered wicked. It implies a loss or absence of moral character ("đức").
- Bringing bad karma/cursing one's descendants: Based on traditional beliefs, it refers to actions so immoral that they exhaust the ancestral virtue or good fortune, potentially bringing misfortune to future generations.

Usage Examples

Adjective:
- Hắn ta đã làm nhiều việc thất đức. (He has done many unrighteous deeds.)
- Lừa gạt người già như vậy thật là thất đức. (Cheating the elderly like that is truly immoral.)
- Ăn ở thất đức thì đời con cháu về sau sẽ khổ. (Living in an unrighteous way will bring suffering to one's descendants.)

Advanced Usage

"thất đức" as a nominalized adjective: Often used to directly condemn an action or person.
- Đó là hành động thất đức! (That is an unrighteous act!)
Used in the structure "làm việc thất đức" (to do unrighteous things) or "kẻ thất đức" (an unrighteous person).

Variants and Related Words

Thất nhân tâm (adj): Losing people's hearts; acting in ways that cause others to lose trust and respect. This is closely related but focuses more on social consequence than inherent morality.
Vô đạo đức (adj): Unethical; immoral. A more direct synonym for the moral aspect, but without the traditional connotation of affecting descendants.
Tàn ác (adj): Cruel; brutal. Describes cruel actions, which are often considered "thất đức".
Độc ác (adj): Malicious; evil. Similar to "tàn ác".

Synonyms

Related Idioms

"Ăn ở thất đức": A common fixed phrase meaning "to live/behave in an unrighteous or immoral manner". It encompasses one's overall conduct.
- Cả đời ăn ở thất đức, giờ già mới chịu hối hận. (Having lived unrighteously his whole life, he only feels regret now in his old age.)
"Thất đức như cha mẹ": (Vulgar idiom) Used as a strong curse, implying someone's actions are so immoral they would shame their own parents.

adj