vạ vịt
Definition
- Noun:
- An unexpected misfortune or trouble: Refers to an unforeseen piece of bad luck, a mishap, or a nuisance that befalls someone without warning or through no direct fault of their own. It implies a minor to moderate calamity that is often seen as an unfair or random stroke of bad fortune.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Anh ta gặp phải một vạ vịt khi xe bị hỏng giữa đường. (He encountered an unexpected misfortune when his car broke down on the road.)
- Đó đúng là vạ vịt, tôi vừa mất ví. (That's just an unlucky break; I just lost my wallet.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a connotation of the trouble being somewhat absurd, unwarranted, or coming "out of the blue." It is frequently used in a colloquial, slightly exasperated tone to describe life's minor yet irritating setbacks.
Variants and Related Words
- Vạ (n): misfortune, trouble, penalty.
- Mang vạ vào thân. (To bring trouble upon oneself.)
Synonyms
- Unlucky break: a piece of bad luck.
- Mishap: an unlucky accident.
- Peculiar misfortune: an odd or unexpected piece of bad fortune.
Related Idioms
- Vạ từ trên trời rơi xuống: Trouble falling from the sky (meaning: completely unexpected and undeserved trouble).
- Tôi chẳng làm gì sai, đây đúng là vạ từ trên trời rơi xuống. (I did nothing wrong; this is truly trouble falling from the sky.)