thây kệ
Definition
Interjection (colloquial):
- To hell with it / Who cares / Let it be: An expression used to dismiss concern, indicate indifference, or accept an undesirable situation by choosing to ignore it. It conveys a deliberate decision to stop worrying about something or someone.
Verb phrase (colloquial):
- To leave (someone/something) alone / to disregard: The act of ignoring a person, problem, or situation, often out of frustration, resignation, or a lack of ability to change it.
Usage Examples
Interjection:
- Thôi, thây kệ nó đi! (Just to hell with it!)
- Thây kệ họ nghĩ gì. (Who cares what they think.)
Verb phrase:
- Tôi sẽ thây kệ chuyện đó. (I will disregard that matter.)
- Cứ thây kệ anh ta một mình. (Just leave him alone.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used to express a sense of resignation or giving up control. It can sound slightly rude or blunt depending on context.
- Can be used reflexively: "thây kệ tôi" (leave me alone / never mind about me).
Variants and Related Words
Mặc kệ (v, interj): A very close synonym, meaning "to disregard" or "let it be." Often interchangeable with "thây kệ."
- Mặc kệ tất cả. (Disregard everything.)
Kệ (v, interj): A shorter, more casual form meaning "never mind" or "leave it."
- Kệ đi! (Never mind!)
Synonyms
- Disregard: To pay no attention to.
- Ignore: To refuse to take notice of.
- Let it be: To allow a situation to exist without intervention.
- Who cares: A rhetorical question expressing indifference.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Thây kệ đời: A more emphatic phrase meaning "to hell with everything" or "let life be," expressing a broader indifference to life's circumstances.
- Lúc này, chỉ muốn thây kệ đời. (Right now, I just want to hell with everything.)