Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Uneducated / Ignorant: Describes a person who lacks formal education, knowledge, or cultivation. It implies a deficiency in learning and manners.
   • Ill-mannered / Uncultured: Often used to criticize someone for behaving in a rude, coarse, or uncivilized way, showing a lack of proper upbringing.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Hắn ta thật là vô học. (He is truly uneducated/ill-mannered.)
  • Đừng có những hành động vô học như vậy. (Don't engage in such uncultured behavior.)
  • Lời nói của anh ấy chứng tỏ sự vô học. (His words demonstrate his ignorance/lack of manners.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is strongly pejorative and is used as a direct insult or severe criticism of a person's character and background, not merely their academic level.

Variants and Related Words

• Thất học (adj): Unschooled, illiterate. Focuses more on the literal lack of schooling rather than behavioral rudeness.
  • Trẻ em vùng sâu còn nguy cơ thất học. (Children in remote areas still risk being unschooled.)

Synonyms

• Ignorant: Lacking knowledge or awareness.
• Uncultured: Lacking good taste, manners, and education.
• Ill-bred: Badly brought up or rude.

Related Idioms

• While "vô học" itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, its meaning is central to expressions criticizing boorish behavior, such as:
  • Ăn nói vô học: To speak in an ill-mannered way.

    • Đừng ăn nói vô học với người lớn. (Don't speak rudely to your elders.)