vô cố

Hai đứa trẻ vô cố đánh nhau.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Without reason; causeless; groundless: Describes an action, event, or feeling that occurs or is done without any cause, motive, or justification.
   • Unprovoked; gratuitous: Often used to describe negative actions, such as conflicts or aggression, that are initiated without any preceding reason or fault from the other party.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Hai đứa vô cố đánh nhau. (The two children fought for no reason.)
  • Anh ấy tức giận vô cố. (He was angry for no apparent reason.)
  • Đó là một lời buộc tội vô cố. (That is a groundless accusation.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "vô cố" is considered somewhat literary or archaic in modern Vietnamese. In everyday speech, phrases like "không có lý do" (without reason) or "vô cớ" are more commonly used with similar meaning.
• It is typically used to modify verbs or nouns to emphasize the complete lack of a justifiable cause.

Variants and Related Words

• Vô cớ (adj): Without cause, reasonless. This is the more common modern variant.

  • Cô ấy khóc vô cớ. (She cried for no reason.)

• Vô lý (adj): Illogical, unreasonable.

  • Yêu cầu đó thật vô lý. (That request is unreasonable.)

Synonyms

• Groundless: Having no foundation or reason.
• Unprovoked: (Of an attack, fight, etc.) not caused by anything done or said.
• Gratuitous: Done without good reason; uncalled for.

Related Idioms

• While "vô cố" itself is not commonly found in idioms, its meaning is central to the phrase:
  • "Gây sự vô cớ": To pick a fight for no reason.

    • Hắn ta thích gây sự vô cớ. (He likes to pick fights for no reason.)