xấu đói
Definition
- Adjective:
- Unable to tolerate hunger; becoming irritable, unpleasant, or weak when hungry: Describes a person whose mood, behavior, or physical state deteriorates significantly when they need to eat. It implies a low tolerance for being hungry.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Anh đừng có xấu đói, ăn cái gì đi rồi nói chuyện tiếp. (Don't be hangry, eat something first then we'll continue talking.)
- Con tôi rất xấu đói, cứ đói một chút là khóc lóc. (My child gets very irritable when hungry; they start crying as soon as they're a little hungry.)
- Tính anh ấy hơi xấu đói, nên nhớ mang đồ ăn vặt khi đi chơi với anh ấy. (He's somewhat prone to getting hangry, so remember to bring snacks when going out with him.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in a colloquial, descriptive manner to explain or excuse someone's bad temper by attributing it to hunger.
- It can describe a temporary state ( - being hangry) or a known character trait ( - a hangry nature).
Variants and Related Words
- Cáu đói: This is a near-synonymous colloquial phrase meaning "irritable due to hunger," with a stronger emphasis on being short-tempered or snappy.
Synonyms
- Hangry: A modern English portmanteau of "hungry" and "angry," describing the same concept.
- Irritable when hungry: A descriptive phrase for the condition.
Related Idioms
- While not a direct idiom, the concept is related to the understanding that hunger can negatively impact one's disposition, as in the common advice: (An empty stomach makes one quick to anger.)