tổn hao
Definition
Noun:
- Loss, depletion, wastage: A reduction in quantity, quality, or value of something, often due to use, decay, or an inefficient process. It implies a gradual or unnecessary decrease.
- Drain, consumption: The using up of a resource, such as energy, money, or time.
Verb (less common):
- To deplete, to cause loss: To result in the reduction or wastage of something.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- Sự tổn hao năng lượng trong hệ thống là rất lớn. (The energy loss in the system is very large.)
- Chúng ta cần giảm thiểu tổn hao nguyên liệu trong sản xuất. (We need to minimize material wastage in production.)
- Đó là một tổn hao tài chính đáng kể. (That is a significant financial drain.)
Verb:
- Quá trình vận chuyển tổn hao nhiều nhiên liệu. (The transportation process depletes a lot of fuel.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used in technical, economic, or formal contexts to describe inefficiency or undesirable reduction.
- Can be used abstractly for non-material things like morale or effort.
- Sự tổn hao tinh thần sau trận chiến. (The morale depletion after the battle.)
Variants and Related Words
Hao tổn: A variant form with identical meaning and usage.
- hao tổn sức lực (depletion of strength)
Tổn thất (n): Loss, damage (often more severe or concrete than tổn hao).
- tổn thất nhân mạng (loss of life)
Hao phí (n): Waste, expenditure (often implies something spent, sometimes unnecessarily).
- hao phí thời gian (waste of time)
Synonyms
- Loss: The fact or process of losing something.
- Depletion: Reduction in the number or quantity of something.
- Wastage: The action or process of wasting something.
- Drain: A continuous outflow or consumption of a resource.
Related Idioms and Phrases
Tổn hao sức lực: To drain one's strength.
- Công việc này tổn hao sức lực rất nhiều. (This work drains one's strength a lot.)
Tổn hao vô ích: Useless waste/wastage.
- Tránh mọi sự tổn hao vô ích. (Avoid all useless waste.)