tiệt
Definition
Adjective:
- Completely gone; utterly finished; extinct: Describes a state where something is totally eliminated, exhausted, or terminated.
- Absolute; total; complete: Used as an intensifier to emphasize the thoroughness or finality of an action or state.
Verb (archaic/formal):
- To exterminate; to eradicate; to wipe out completely: To destroy or remove something totally, often used in the context of pests or harmful elements.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cái kho này trống tiệt rồi. (This warehouse is completely empty.)
- Nó cấm tiệt con không được đi chơi khuya. (He absolutely forbids his child from going out late.)
- Verb:
- Người ta phun thuốc để tiệt muỗi. (They spray insecticide to exterminate mosquitoes.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used colloquially as an adverb-like intensifier before a verb to mean "completely" or "totally."
- Nó phá tiệt cái máy tính của tôi. (He completely wrecked my computer.)
- Can be used in negative commands for strong emphasis.
- Cấm tiệt! (It's absolutely forbidden!)
Variants and Related Words
- Tiệt trùng (v): To sterilize; to disinfect.
- Tiệt trùng bình sữa cho em bé. (Sterilize the baby's milk bottle.)
- Tiệt chủng (v/phr): To become extinct.
- Nhiều loài động vật có nguy cơ bị tiệt chủng. (Many animal species are at risk of extinction.)
Synonyms
- Completely: In every way or to the fullest extent.
- Absolutely: With no qualification, restriction, or limitation; totally.
- Exterminate: To destroy completely.
Related Idioms
- Hết tiệt: Completely finished or all gone.
- Thức ăn trong tủ lạnh hết tiệt. (The food in the fridge is all gone.)
- Phá tiệt: To wreck or ruin something completely.
- Lũ trẻ chơi đùa và phá tiệt khu vườn. (The children played and completely wrecked the garden.)