Definition

1. Adjective:

   • To be personally harmed or disadvantaged: To suffer direct loss, damage, or negative consequences to oneself, one's body, or one's personal interests.
   • To be the one who loses out: To be the party that is ultimately worse off in a situation.

2. Verb (reflexive usage):

   • To bring harm upon oneself: To cause damage or loss to oneself through one's own actions or decisions.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cuối cùng, cô ấy mới là người thiệt thân. (In the end, she is the one who is personally disadvantaged.)
  • Anh đừng làm gì khiến mình thiệt thân. (Don't do anything that will cause you harm.)
• Verb:
  • Hắn thiệt thân vì thói tham lam của chính mình. (He brought harm upon himself because of his own greed.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a sense of regret or warning, highlighting that the primary victim of an action is the person who performed it.
• It is commonly used in advice or moral lessons to caution against self-destructive behavior.

Variants and Related Words

• Thiệt (v/adj): to lose, to suffer a loss; disadvantageous.
  • Việc này chỉ có thiệt, không có lợi. (This matter only brings loss, no gain.)
• Thiệt hại (n): damage, loss.
  • Công ty phải bồi thường thiệt hại. (The company must compensate for the damages.)

Synonyms

• To be disadvantaged: To be placed in an unfavorable position.
• To suffer: To experience something unpleasant.
• To lose out: To not get a fair share or benefit.

Related Idioms

• Thiệt thòi: to be shortchanged or to get the short end of the stick; often refers to unfair treatment rather than self-inflicted harm.
  • Đứa trẻ đó sống một cuộc đời thiệt thòi. (That child has lived a deprived life.)
• Mang họa vào thân: to bring disaster upon oneself (stronger connotation than ).
  • Anh ta đang mang họa vào thân vì những lời nói đó. (He is bringing disaster upon himself with those words.)