Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Pathetic / Poignant: Describes something, typically speech, writing, or emotion, that expresses profound sorrow or grief in a deeply moving and heart-rending way, evoking strong pity or compassion.
   • Lamentable / Plaintive: Conveys a tone or quality of intense, mournful earnestness.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Lời kêu gọi của cô ấy nghe rất thống thiết. (Her plea sounded very poignant.)
  • Bài điếu văn thống thiết khiến mọi người đều rơi nước mắt. (The pathetic funeral oration made everyone shed tears.)
  • Bức thư viết đầy những lời lẽ thống thiết. (The letter was written with deeply moving words.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used in formal or literary contexts to describe appeals, laments, eulogies, or expressions of suffering that are designed to touch the listener's or reader's heart deeply.
• Can modify abstract nouns like (words), (appeal), (essay), (cry).

Variants and Related Words

• Thảm thiết (adj): Also means mournful or pitiful, sometimes used interchangeably with , though can emphasize a state of being tragic or dismal.
  • Tiếng kêu thảm thiết. (A mournful cry.)

Synonyms

• Poignant: Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.
• Pathetic: Arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness.
• Heart-rending: Causing overwhelming distress or sorrow.
• Plaintive: Sounding sad and mournful.

Related Idioms

• Lời lẽ thống thiết: (A set phrase) Pathetic/poignant words.
  • Với những lời lẽ thống thiết, ông ấy đã thuyết phục được hội đồng. (With poignant words, he persuaded the council.)