tồi tàn
Definition
- Adjective:
- In a very bad or dilapidated condition: Describes something, typically a physical object or place, that is severely deteriorated, decayed, or falling apart due to age, neglect, or poverty.
- Wretched or miserable: Describes a state or condition that is extremely poor, shabby, or pitiable.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Ngôi nhà cũ kỹ trông thật tồi tàn. (The old house looks truly dilapidated.)
- Khu phố này đã trở nên tồi tàn sau chiến tranh. (This neighborhood has become wretched after the war.)
- Đồ đạc tồi tàn không đáng một xu. (The shabby furniture isn't worth a cent.)
Advanced Usage
- Used to describe abstract concepts like morality or spirit in a severely degraded state.
- Đạo đức xã hội đang ở trong một tình trạng tồi tàn. (The social morality is in a wretched state.)
Variants and Related Words
- Tồi (adj): Bad, poor (in quality), often less severe than "tồi tàn".
- Chất lượng tồi. (Poor quality.)
- Tàn tạ (adj): Fading, withering, declining (often used for plants or beauty).
- Vẻ đẹp tàn tạ. (Fading beauty.)
Synonyms
- Dilapidated: In a state of disrepair or ruin.
- Ramshackle: In a state of severe disrepair.
- Wretched: In a very unhappy or poor state.
- Shabby: In poor condition from long use.
Related Idioms
- Tồi tàn nghiệp chướng: Wretched and karmic (describing a pitiable state seen as a result of bad karma).
- Số phận tồi tàn nghiệp chướng. (A wretched, karmic fate.)