thù vặt
Definition
Noun:
- Petty grudge: A feeling of resentment or a desire for revenge stemming from a minor, trivial, or insignificant offense.
- Small-minded vendetta: A prolonged state of hostility or ill will maintained over a slight or trivial matter.
Adjective (used attributively):
- Petty / Small-minded: Describing a person who holds or acts upon such minor resentments; being vindictive over trivial issues.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- Anh ta giữ *thù vặt với đồng nghiệp chỉ vì một lời nói đùa.* (He holds a petty grudge against his colleague over a joke.)
- Đừng để *thù vặt phá hỏng tình bạn lâu năm.* (Don't let a small-minded vendetta ruin a long-term friendship.)
Adjective:
- Hắn là một kẻ *thù vặt, luôn tìm cách trả đũa những chuyện nhỏ nhặt.* (He is a petty person, always looking to retaliate over trivial matters.)
Advanced Usage
- The concept often implies that the person holding the "thù vặt" has a narrow, unforgiving character and magnifies minor slights. It criticizes the waste of emotional energy on insignificant conflicts.
Variants and Related Words
Thù hằn (n): Deep-seated hatred or enmity, typically over serious matters.
- Mối *thù hằn giữa hai gia tộc kéo dài hàng thế kỷ.* (The hatred between the two families lasted for centuries.)
Định kiến (n): Prejudice or bias, which can be related but is not specifically about revenge.
- Hẹp hòi (adj): Narrow-minded, intolerant; can describe the character of someone who holds "thù vặt."
Synonyms
- Petty resentment
- Trivial vendetta
- Minor spite
- Grudge (in the context of a small issue)
Related Idioms and Phrases
"Thù dai, thù vặt": An idiom describing a person who holds grudges for a long time (thù dai) and over small things (thù vặt), emphasizing a persistently petty and vengeful nature.
- Cảnh giác với hắn, hắn thuộc loại "thù dai, thù vặt". (Be wary of him; he is the "long-lasting, petty grudge" type.)
"Bụng dạ hẹp hòi, hay thù vặt": A phrase meaning "narrow-minded and prone to holding petty grudges."