tên gian
Definition
- Noun:
- A villain; a scoundrel; an evildoer: A person who commits wicked, deceitful, or criminal acts. The term carries a strong negative moral judgment and is often used to condemn someone's character or actions.
- A treacherous person; a traitor: Specifically refers to someone who betrays trust, is disloyal, or acts with deceit.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Hắn đúng là một tên gian. (He is truly a villain.)
- Cảnh sát đã bắt được tên gian. (The police have caught the scoundrel.)
- Đừng tin lời tên gian đó. (Do not believe that treacherous person.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "tên" is a colloquial, often derogatory, classifier for a person (similar to "fellow" or "character" in English). When combined with "gian" (meaning deceitful, wicked), it forms a potent insult implying both contempt and moral condemnation.
- It is commonly found in literary, historical, or dramatic contexts to describe antagonists.
Variants and Related Words
- Kẻ gian (n): A synonym with identical meaning (villain, evildoer). The word "kẻ" is another common classifier for a person, often with a negative connotation.
- Kẻ gian đột nhập vào nhà. (The evildoer broke into the house.)
Synonyms
- Villain: A person guilty of or involved in crime or wickedness.
- Scoundrel: A dishonest or unscrupulous person.
- Evildoer: A person who does evil or harmful acts.
- Traitor: A person who betrays trust or is disloyal.
Related Idioms
- Gian manh (adj): Deceitful, crafty, treacherous. This adjective describes the characteristic of a "tên gian".
- Thủ đoạn của hắn rất gian manh. (His tactics are very deceitful.)
- Gian tà (adj): Wicked, evil, nefarious.
- Âm mưu gian tà. (A wicked plot.)