›Tiếng Việt → English›ác

Ác

[ʔaːk̚˧˥], [ʔaːk̚˥˧]
AdjectiveNoun
Adjective

Evil, Wicked, Cruel

General

Morally wrong or bad; intending or intended to do harm. Characterized by cruelty or malice.

Ví dụ:
"Bà mẹ kế rất độc ác."
→ The stepmother is very cruel.
"Đó là một hành động ác."
→ That was an evil act.
Synonyms
Antonyms

Fierce, Harsh, Severe

General

Describing something as intensely or unpleasantly strong, severe, or difficult to endure, such as weather, fate, or an action.

Ví dụ:
"Một cơn bão ác."
→ A fierce storm.
"Số phận thật là ác với anh ấy."
→ Fate is truly harsh to him.
Synonyms
Antonyms

Intense, Awesome

Informal / Slang

Used informally to describe something as very impressive, intense, or extreme, similar to the English slang 'wicked' or 'sick'.

Ví dụ:
"Anh ta chơi game ác thật!"
→ He plays games really intensely! / He's a wicked gamer!
"Cú sút đó ác quá!"
→ That shot was insane!
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun

Evil, Wickedness

General / Philosophical

The quality of being morally wrong; profound immorality and wickedness, especially when regarded as a force. Often used as 'cái ác' (the evil).

Ví dụ:
"Phân biệt giữa cái thiện và cái ác."
→ To distinguish between good and evil.
"Gieo nhân ác thì gặp quả báo."
→ Sow evil and you will reap karmic retribution. (lit. Sow an evil cause, meet a retributive fruit.)
Synonyms
Antonyms

Derived Forms

Noun
antipathy, ill feeling
Adjective
cruel, malicious, wicked
Noun
nightmare
Noun
malice, ill will
Adjective
brutal, cruel
Noun
evil, the evil

Collocations

lòng dạ độc ác
a cruel heart / a wicked nature
tội ác chiến tranh
war crime
trừng trị kẻ ác
to punish the wicked
gây ra tội ác
to commit an atrocity / a crime
ánh mắt ác hiểm
a malicious gaze

Idioms

"Ác giả ác báo"
Proverbial
→ What goes around comes around; Evil is repaid with evil.
A proverb stating that wicked people or wicked deeds will eventually be met with punishment or negative consequences.
Examples:
"Hắn lừa người ta cả đời, giờ bị phá sản. Đúng là ác giả ác báo."
→ He tricked people his whole life, now he's bankrupt. It's truly a case of what goes around, comes around.
"Ác mồm ác miệng"
Informal / Descriptive
→ To have a sharp/malicious tongue.
Describes a person who habitually says cruel, harsh, or malicious things.
Examples:
"Đừng để ý lời bà ta, bà ta vốn ác mồm ác miệng vậy đó."
→ Don't pay attention to her words, she's always had a malicious tongue.