Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Impolitic; ill-advised; unwise: Describes a decision, action, or plan that is not sensible or judicious, often because it fails to consider practical consequences or strategic benefits. It implies a lack of sound policy or clever planning.
   • Poorly calculated; misjudged: Indicates that a move or strategy is based on faulty reasoning or incorrect assessment, leading to negative outcomes.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Việc tăng giá đột ngột là một quyết định thất sách. (The sudden price increase was an impolitic decision.)
  • Hành động đó của anh ta hoàn toàn thất sách. (His action was completely ill-advised.)
  • Vì thất sách nên mới đến nông nỗi này. (It's because of poor judgment that things have come to this sorry state.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used in formal or analytical contexts to critique policies, strategies, or significant decisions in politics, business, or management.
• Can describe a singular tactical error within a broader strategy.

Variants and Related Words

• Thất bại (n/v): To fail; failure. While "thất sách" refers to the poor quality of the plan itself, "thất bại" refers to the resulting outcome.
• Sai lầm (n/adj): Mistake; mistaken; erroneous. A more general term for an error, not specifically tied to policy or strategy.

Synonyms

• Impolitic: Not wise or expedient; not politically astute.
• Ill-advised: Carried out without careful consideration or good advice.
• Unwise: Showing poor judgment; foolish.
• Misguided: Based on faulty reasoning or understanding.
• Inept: Lacking skill or judgment; incompetent in a specific context.

Related Idioms

• "Nước cờ thất sách": A poorly calculated move (literally, an ill-advised chess move). Used metaphorically for a bad strategic decision.
  • Đó thực sự là một nước cờ thất sách của ban lãnh đạo. (That was truly a poorly calculated move by the leadership.)

adj

1. impolitic