Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To take personally / to interpret as directed at oneself: The phrase describes the action of perceiving or assuming that someone's general words, comments, or criticisms are specifically aimed at or refer to oneself, often with a sense of defensiveness or oversensitivity.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Đừng có vận vào, tôi đang nói chung chung thôi. (Don't take it personally; I'm speaking in general terms.)
  • Cô ấy hay vận vào những lời phê bình của sếp. (She often interprets the boss's criticisms as being directed at her.)
  • Anh ấy vận câu chuyện tôi kể vào bản thân và tự ái. (He took the story I told personally and got offended.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used in negative constructions (e.g., "đừng vận vào") to advise someone not to internalize or feel targeted by a general statement. It implies a subjective and sometimes incorrect application of external remarks to one's own situation.

Variants and Related Words

• Tự ái (adj): sensitive, easily offended, having a bruised ego. This is a common result of "vận vào."
• Ám chỉ (v): to imply, to insinuate. This is the action that a person who is "vận vào" believes someone else is doing.

Synonyms

• To take to heart: to be deeply affected or offended by something said.
• To internalize (criticism/comments): to apply external remarks to oneself.
• To feel targeted: to feel that one is the specific object of remarks.

Related Idioms

• While "vận vào" itself is a set phrase, it relates to the concept of:
  • Nghe tai này ra tai kia: (lit. to hear in one ear and out the other) To not take something personally or to let criticism slide. This is the opposite behavior of "vận vào."