thê thiết
Definition
- Adjective:
- Heartrending; Bitterly Mournful: Describes a sound, expression, or situation that conveys intense sorrow, grief, or lamentation, often in a prolonged and piercing manner.
- Piteous; Plaintive: Characterizes something that evokes deep pity or compassion due to its poignant sadness.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Tiếng khóc thê thiết vang lên trong đêm. (A heartrending cry echoed in the night.)
- Lời than thở thê thiết của người mẹ làm ai nấy đều xúc động. (The mother's piteous lament moved everyone who heard it.)
- Bản nhạc nghe thật thê thiết. (The music sounds deeply mournful.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used to describe vocal expressions of grief (crying, wailing, lamenting) or artistic works (music, poetry) that embody profound sadness.
- Carries a literary and somewhat formal tone, frequently found in written narratives or descriptive prose.
Synonyms
- Heartrending: Causing intense sorrow or distress.
- Mournful: Feeling, expressing, or inducing sadness, grief, or sorrow.
- Plaintive: Sounding sad and mournful.
- Lamentable: Deplorably unfortunate or grievous.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Kêu than thê thiết: To wail or lament piteously.
- Đứa trẻ kêu than thê thiết khi bị lạc. (The child wailed piteously when lost.)
- Thảm thiết: A closely related synonym, also meaning deeply mournful or tragic. While often used interchangeably, can sometimes emphasize a tragic or disastrous aspect more strongly.