xấu

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The Vietnamese word "xấu" is an adjective that primarily means "ugly" or "bad." It can describe something that is not visually appealing or something that is of poor quality. Additionally, it can refer to negative moral qualities or behavior.

Usage Instructions:

1. Describing Appearance: Use "xấu" when talking about looks. For example, if someone has a bad haircut or a painting that doesn’t look good, you might say it's "xấu."
2. Describing Quality: You can also use "xấu" to describe situations, actions, or objects that are of low quality or undesirable.

Examples:

• Appearance: "Cô ấy có một chiếc váy xấu." (She has an ugly dress.)
• Quality: "Bữa ăn hôm nay thật xấu." (Today's meal is really bad.)

Advanced Usage:

• "Xấu" can also be used in idiomatic expressions. For instance, "Trong cái xấu có cái tốt" translates to "In bad things, there are good things." This phrase suggests that even in negative situations, there can be a silver lining or a lesson learned.

Word Variants:

• Xấu xí: This is a more emphatic form of "xấu," meaning "very ugly" or "hideous."
• Xấu hổ: This means "ashamed" or "embarrassed," showing a related but different emotional context.

Different Meanings:

• Beyond physical appearance, "xấu" can also refer to moral character. For example, "Hành động của anh ấy thật xấu" means "His actions are really bad," implying poor moral judgment.

Synonyms:

• Tệ: This means "bad" and can be used interchangeably in many contexts.
• Xấu xí: As mentioned, this intensifies the meaning of "ugly."

Academic

adj

1. ugly, bad, worse
   • trong cái xấu có cái tốt
     it's an ill wind (that blows nobody any good)