Definition

1. Verb:
   • To lament / to sigh with sorrow: To express grief, regret, or unhappiness, often with audible sighs or spoken complaints. It conveys a sense of deep, weary sadness or discontent.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy ngồi một mình thở than về số phận. (She sat alone, lamenting her fate.)
  • Ông lão thở than vì cơn đau lưng hành hạ. (The old man sighed with sorrow because his back pain was tormenting him.)
  • Đừng chỉ ngồi đó thở than, hãy hành động đi. (Don't just sit there lamenting; take action.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb often implies a passive or repetitive expression of sorrow, more focused on vocalizing distress than on seeking an active solution.

Variants and Related Words

• Than thở (v): This is the more common, standard form with the same meaning as "thở than." The words are a reversible pair.
  • Anh ấy than thở về công việc quá nhiều. (He complained about having too much work.)

Synonyms

• Lament: To express passionate grief.
• Bemoan: To express discontent or sorrow over something.
• Sigh: To emit a long, deep breath expressing sadness, relief, or tiredness.
• Complain: To express dissatisfaction or annoyance.

Related Idioms

• Thở ngắn than dài: (To sigh short and lament long) To be constantly sighing and lamenting; to be in a state of deep and persistent sorrow.
  • Sau biến cố, bà cứ thở ngắn than dài cả ngày. (After the incident, she spent all day sighing and lamenting.)