Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Frightening, scary, terrifying: Causing or likely to cause fear, dread, or alarm. Describes something that inspires a feeling of being afraid.
   • Formidable, awesome: Can imply something that is impressive in a way that inspires awe or respect due to its power, intensity, or scale. This meaning often overlaps with "đáng nể" (admirable, respectable).

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Bộ phim kinh dị đó thật sự rất đáng sợ. (That horror movie is truly very frightening.)
  • Sức mạnh của cơn bão thật đáng sợ. (The power of the storm is truly formidable/terrifying.)
  • Anh ấy có một vẻ ngoài đáng sợ, nhưng thực ra rất tốt bụng. (He has a scary appearance, but is actually very kind.)

Advanced Usage

• "đáng sợ thật" / "thật đáng sợ": An emphatic phrase meaning "truly/really scary".
  • Tốc độ phát triển của công nghệ thật đáng sợ. (The speed of technological development is truly awesome/daunting.)
• Used to describe abstract concepts like speed, intelligence, or efficiency, often conveying a sense of being remarkably intense or impressive to the point of causing unease or admiration.
  • Cô ấy có trí nhớ đáng sợ. (She has a formidable/terrifyingly good memory.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sợ (v): To fear, to be afraid of.
  • Tôi sợ ma. (I am afraid of ghosts.)
• Sợ hãi (n/v): Fear, fright; to be frightened.
  • Cảm giác sợ hãi (The feeling of fear)
• Kinh sợ (adj): Terrified, horrified; often used for a stronger degree of fear.
  • Một tội ác kinh sợ (A horrifying crime)
• Ghê sợ (adj): Dreadful, revolting; can imply fear mixed with disgust.
  • Một cảnh tượng ghê sợ (A dreadful/revolting scene)

Synonyms

• Khiếp sợ (adj): Dreadful, fearsome.
• Rùng rợn (adj): Creepy, eerie, gruesome (often related to atmosphere or appearance).
• Khủng khiếp (adj): Horrible, terrible, awful (can refer to fear or general badness).

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Gây đáng sợ: To cause fear, to be frightening.
  • Âm thanh đó gây cảm giác đáng sợ. (That sound causes a frightening feeling.)
• Trông thật đáng sợ: To look really scary.
  • Con búp bê cũ trông thật đáng sợ. (The old doll looks really scary.)

Related Idioms

• Đáng sợ hơn ma: (Lit. "Scarier than a ghost") Used to emphasize that something is extremely frightening.
  • Căn nhà hoang ấy đáng sợ hơn ma. (That abandoned house is scarier than a ghost.)
• Mặt đáng sợ: A scary face/expression.
  • Đừng làm mặt đáng sợ với trẻ con. (Don't make a scary face at the children.)

adj

1. awesome