Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Aching with sorrow or pity: Describes a deep, poignant feeling of sadness, compassion, or heartache, often in response to witnessing suffering or loss.
   • Feeling a sharp pang of emotion: Conveys a sudden, keen sense of emotional pain, such as regret, sympathy, or nostalgic sorrow.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Lòng tôi xon xót khi nhìn thấy cảnh đó. (My heart ached with sorrow when I saw that scene.)
  • Bà cảm thấy xon xót trước số phận của đứa trẻ mồ côi. (She felt a sharp pang of pity for the orphaned child's fate.)
  • Nghe câu chuyện của anh ấy, ai cũng thấy xon xót. (Listening to his story, everyone felt a heart-wrenching sadness.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used to describe an internal, visceral emotional response. It emphasizes a feeling that is physically felt in one's heart or chest.
• Commonly paired with words for heart () or feeling () to describe the emotional state.

Variants and Related Words

• Xót xa (adj): Sorrowful, distressed. A close synonym with a similar meaning of heartfelt grief or pain.
  • Cô ấy xót xa khi nhớ về quá khứ. (She felt sorrowful when remembering the past.)

Synonyms

• Heartache: Severe emotional distress or anguish.
• Pity: The feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering of others.
• Poignant: Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.

Related Idioms

• Lòng đau xon xót: An aching heart; used to emphasize deep emotional pain.
  • Nghe tin dữ, lòng bà đau xon xót. (Upon hearing the bad news, her heart ached with sorrow.)