Definition

1. Idiom:
   • Inconsistent / Contradictory: Describes a person's actions, statements, or attitudes that are not consistent from beginning to end. It indicates a lack of steadfastness, where what comes later contradicts or fails to match what was presented earlier.
   • Not uniform / Lacking coherence: Refers to a situation, process, or set of rules that is disjointed, lacking logical sequence or uniformity between its initial and subsequent stages.

Usage Examples

• Idiom:
  • Anh ta hứa rất nhiều nhưng hành động thì tiền hậu bất nhất. (He made many promises, but his actions were inconsistent.)
  • Kế hoạch này tiền hậu bất nhất, phần đầu và phần sau mâu thuẫn với nhau. (This plan is incoherent; the first part and the later part contradict each other.)
  • Thái độ tiền hậu bất nhất của lãnh đạo khiến nhân viên mất lòng tin. (The leader's inconsistent attitude makes employees lose trust.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used in formal or critical contexts to evaluate behavior, policies, narratives, or logical arguments, emphasizing a flaw in integrity or planning.
• Can describe a person's character as unreliable or fickle.

Variants and Related Words

• Thất hứa (v): to break a promise.
• Thiếu nhất quán (adj phrase): to be inconsistent.
• Nói một đằng làm một nẻo (idiom): to say one thing and do another.

Synonyms

• Inconsistent
• Contradictory
• Incoherent
• Unreliable (when describing character)

Related Idioms

• Đầu voi đuôi chuột: A grand beginning but a poor, insignificant ending (literally "head of an elephant, tail of a mouse").
• Trống đánh xuôi, kèn thổi ngược: Complete disunity and lack of coordination (literally "drums beat one way, horns blow another").