trái gió
Definition
Adjective:
- Adverse wind / contrary wind: Refers to wind blowing in the opposite direction to the desired course of travel, making movement difficult, especially for boats or vehicles.
- Unfavorable / adverse conditions: Used metaphorically to describe a situation where circumstances are difficult, unfavorable, or working against someone's plans or health.
Adjective (figurative):
- Out of sorts / under the weather: A common idiomatic meaning describing a state of feeling slightly ill, unwell, or physically uncomfortable, often attributed to sudden changes in weather.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Thuyền đi chậm vì gặp trái gió. (The boat moved slowly because it encountered an adverse wind.)
- Công việc gặp trái gió nên bị chậm tiến độ. (The work met with adverse conditions, so the progress was delayed.)
- Tôi cảm thấy trái gió trở trời, có lẽ sắp bị cảm. (I feel out of sorts with the changing weather; perhaps I'm about to catch a cold.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used in the fixed expression "trái gió trở trời" (literally: adverse wind, changing weather). This idiom strongly conveys the idea of feeling bodily discomfort or illness due to meteorological changes, particularly associated with joint pain or minor ailments.
- Bà tôi hay đau nhức mỗi khi trái gió trở trời. (My grandmother often aches whenever the weather turns.)
Variants and Related Words
- Ngược gió (adj): Literally "against the wind," similar in meaning to the primary sense of .
- Đạp xe ngược gió rất mệt. (Cycling against the wind is very tiring.)
Synonyms
- Headwind: A wind blowing directly against the course of travel.
- Adverse: Unfavorable, harmful.
- Unwell: Not in good health.
Related Idioms
- Trái gió trở trời: The primary idiom, meaning to feel physically unwell or achy due to changes in the weather.
- Cái chân cũ của ông ấy lại đau mỗi lúc trái gió trở trời. (His old leg injury hurts again every time the weather changes.)