Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Degenerate, depraved, decadent: Describes something or someone that has declined severely in moral, ethical, or cultural quality from a former, better state. It implies corruption, baseness, and a loss of virtue or standards.
   • Wretched, vile, abominable: Can also describe something considered extremely bad, contemptible, or of very low quality.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Văn hóa đồi tệ thường dẫn đến sự sụp đổ của một xã hội. (A degenerate culture often leads to the collapse of a society.)
  • Những hành vi đồi tệ của hắn khiến mọi người kinh tởm. (His depraved actions disgusted everyone.)
  • Đó là một chính sách đồi tệ, chỉ mang lại bất công. (That is a vile policy, only bringing about injustice.)

Advanced Usage

• Literary/Formal Context: Often used in formal writing, political commentary, or historical analysis to describe moral or societal decay.
  • Triều đại cuối cùng bị xem là thời kỳ đồi tệ nhất trong lịch sử. (The last dynasty is considered the most decadent period in history.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đồi bại (adj): Synonymous with 'đồi tệ', meaning corrupt, degenerate. Often used interchangeably.
  • lối sống đồi bại (a corrupt lifestyle)
• Suy đồi (verb/noun): To degenerate; degeneration. Refers to the process or state of decline.
  • sự suy đồi đạo đức (moral degeneration)

Synonyms

• Tha hóa: Depraved, corrupted (often used in philosophical contexts about human nature).
• Bại hoại: Decayed, rotten (emphasizing a state of ruin).
• Đê tiện: Mean, base, despicable (focuses more on low character than systemic decay).

Related Phrases

• Phong hóa đồi tệ: Decadent customs and morals.
  • Một xã hội với phong hóa đồi tệ khó có thể phát triển. (A society with decadent morals can hardly develop.)
• Tư tưởng đồi tệ: Depraved/degenerate ideology.
  • Chúng ta phải bài trừ những tư tưởng đồi tệ. (We must eradicate depraved ideologies.)

Notes on Usage

• Tone: The word carries a very strong negative connotation and is used for severe criticism. It is not used for minor faults.
• Context: Primarily used to describe abstract concepts like culture, morality, ethics, customs, or the character of a person/regime. Less commonly used for concrete objects.
• Formality: Considered a formal and literary term.

1. Degenerate
   • Văn hóa đồi tệ
     A degenerate culture