How do you say “cruel” in Vietnamese?

“Cruel” in Vietnamese is độc ác (wicked), dữ tợn (cruel), ác (cruel).

Vietnamese words for “cruel”

• độc ácListenadjective
  Hanoi [ʔɗəwk͡p̚˧˨ʔ ʔaːk̚˧˦] · Saigon [ʔɗəwk͡p̚˨˩˨ ʔaːk̚˦˥]độc heavy ác rising

  wicked; evil; cruel

  for “cruel” meaning: Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.

• dữ tợnListenadjective
  Hanoi [zɨ˦ˀ˥ təːn˧˨ʔ] · Saigon [jɨ˨˩˦ təːŋ˨˩˨]dữ creaky rising tợn heavy

  cruel; brutal; ferocious

• ácListenadjective
  Hanoi [ʔaːk̚˧˦] · Saigon [ʔaːk̚˦˥]ác rising

  cruel; evil; inhumane

• tàn nhẫnListenadjective
  Hanoi [taːn˨˩ ɲən˦ˀ˥] · Saigon [taːŋ˨˩ ɲəŋ˨˩˦]tàn falling nhẫn creaky rising

  ruthless; cruel

  • Sao mấy cô gái đó tàn nhẫn vậy?Why are these girls so cruel?
• chuyên chếListenadjective
  Hanoi [t͡ɕwiən˧˧ t͡ɕe˧˦] · Saigon [c⁽ʷ⁾iəŋ˧˧ cej˦˥]chuyên level chế rising

  cruel; tyrannical; dictatorial

Related Vietnamese words

• bạo ngượcListenadjective

  cruel; brutal; tyrannical

• cay độcListenadjective

  cruel; malicious

• nghiệtListenadjective

  harsh; stern; cruel

• tàn ácListenadjective

  cruel

• tàn độcListenadjective

  cruel

• dã manListenadjective

  barbarian; cruel; ruthless

• bất nhẫnListenadjective

  sympathetic; concerned

• cay nghiệtListenadjective

  severe; harsh

• man rợListenadjective

  barbaric; uncivilized; primitive

Translations matched from English Wiktionary (translation tables and Vietnamese entries, via kaikki.org; CC BY-SA 4.0) and the NgonNgu English–Vietnamese dictionary, reviewed and edited; examples from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). The Listen button uses your browser's Vietnamese voice.