Definition

1. Verb:
   • To lament one's own fate or circumstances: To express sorrow, regret, or complaint about one's own difficult situation, often with a tone of self-pity or seeking sympathy.
   • To bemoan one's lot: To voice discontent or unhappiness regarding one's personal condition or destiny.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy ngồi than thân một mình. (She sat alone lamenting her fate.)
  • Anh ấy chỉ biết than thân trách phận. (He could only bemoan his lot and blame his fate.)
  • Đừng than thân nữa, hãy hành động đi. (Stop complaining about your situation; take action instead.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a slightly critical or dismissive way to describe someone who complains excessively about their life without taking proactive steps to improve it.
• It frequently appears in the fixed, four-syllable idiom "than thân trách phận", which means "to lament one's condition and blame one's fate," encapsulating a sense of passive resignation.

Variants and Related Words

• Than vãn (v): to complain, to grumble (more general, not necessarily focused on one's own fate).
  • Cô ấy than vãn về công việc. (She complained about her job.)
• Thở than (v): to sigh in sorrow, to lament.
  • Ông lão thở than về thời thế. (The old man lamented the times.)

Synonyms

• Bemoan: To express discontent or sorrow over (one's situation).
• Lament: To express sorrow, regret, or unhappiness about something.
• Complain: To express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.

Related Idioms

• Than thân trách phận: To lament one's condition and blame one's fate; to bemoan one's lot in life.
  • Suốt ngày than thân trách phận chẳng giải quyết được gì. (Bemoaning your lot in life all day solves nothing.)