Definition

Adjective: - Vile and cowardly: Describes a person or their behavior as being both morally despicable and showing a complete lack of courage or integrity. It implies a contemptible weakness of character that invites scorn.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Hành động phản bội bạn bè của hắn thật đớn hèn. (His act of betraying his friends was truly vile and cowardly.)
  • Bộ mặt đớn hèn của kẻ chỉ dám bắt nạt người yếu thế. (The vile and cowardly face of someone who only dares to bully the vulnerable.)
  • Nó có một bản tính đớn hèn. (He has a vile and cowardly nature.)

Advanced Usage

• The term đớn hèn is often used in literary or formal condemnations to strongly emphasize both the moral repugnance and the spinelessness of a subject. It carries a stronger emotional charge than using either "hèn" (cowardly) or "đê tiện" (despicable) alone.

Synonyms

• Despicable: Deserving hatred and contempt.
• Contemptible: Worthy of scorn; disgraceful.
• Craven: Completely lacking in courage; abjectly fearful.
• Ignoble: Not honorable in character or purpose.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• While đớn hèn itself is a strong standalone term, it is conceptually related to idioms describing weakness and disgrace:
  • Hèn nhát: Cowardly.
  • Đê hèn: Lowly and mean.

adj

1. vile