vô học
Definition
- 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.)