Definition

1. Noun:
   • A malignant ulcer or abscess: A serious, infected sore or boil, often implying a deep-seated, harmful infection or lesion.
   • A festering wound or tumor: A swollen, inflamed area on the body containing pus, typically caused by infection.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Vết thương không được chữa trị đã biến thành một ung độc. (The untreated wound turned into a malignant ulcer.)
  • Các thầy thuốc cổ truyền có nhiều bài thuốc chữa các loại ung độc. (Traditional physicians have many remedies for various kinds of abscesses.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is considered literary or somewhat rare in modern Vietnamese. It often describes a severe physical affliction and can be used metaphorically to represent a deep-seated, corrupting problem within an organization or society.
  • Tham nhũng là một ung độc trong lòng xã hội. (Corruption is a festering sore within society.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ung nhọt (n): A more common synonym meaning a boil, abscess, or tumor. "Ung độc" is often defined as being equivalent to this term.
  • Trên da anh xuất hiện một cái ung nhọt. (A boil appeared on his skin.)

Synonyms

• Abscess: A swollen area within body tissue containing pus.
• Ulcer: An open sore on an external or internal surface of the body.
• Boil: A painful, pus-filled bump under the skin caused by infected hair follicles.

Related Idioms

• While no common idioms use "ung độc" specifically, the concept is related to the idiom:
  • Cái ung nhọt của xã hội: (The abscess of society) Used to describe a persistent, harmful social problem.

    • Tệ nạn ma túy được coi là cái ung nhọt của xã hội. (Drug addiction is considered the abscess of society.)