sự bất cẩn
Negligence in Vietnamese is expressed as sự bất cẩn.
The term is used to describe the state of being negligent.
Meaning: state of being negligent (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The noun sự bất cẩn is formed by adding the particle sự to the adjective bất cẩn. The adjective bất cẩn is itself composed of bất, meaning not and cẩn, meaning careful.
Which one should you use?
While sự bất cẩn refers to a lack of care or attention, sự cẩu thả implies a more specific sense of sloppiness or doing a job poorly/hastily.
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the adjective bất cẩn (careless) into the noun negligence, the prefix sự is added.
Did you know?
- The word cẩn in sự bất cẩn shares its roots with the character for 'hibiscus', a type of flower, despite its current meaning being 'careful'.
- In legal contexts, Vietnamese may use different terms for 'negligence' depending on whether it is a civil or criminal matter, moving beyond the general sự bất cẩn used in daily speech.
- The way sự turns an adjective into a noun is very similar to how the Japanese word koto is used for abstract concepts.
Examples in context
- Sự thiếu cẩn trọng nghiêm trọngSerious negligence
- Hành vi bất cẩn của anh ta đã gây ra thiệt hại nặng nềHis negligent behavior caused significant damage
- Sự bất cẩn của anh ấy đã gây ra lỗi.His negligence caused the error.
- Đừng để sự bất cẩn làm hỏng việc.Don't let negligence ruin the work.
- Họ phải chịu trách nhiệm cho sự bất cẩn này.They must take responsibility for this negligence.
Example conversation
Nam and Lan are discussing a mistake in a report at work.
- LanNam, có sự bất cẩn trong báo cáo này.Nam, there is negligence in this report.
- NamTôi xin lỗi, đó là lỗi của tôi.I am sorry, it was my mistake.
- LanCô ấy sẽ không chấp nhận sự bất cẩn đâu.She won't accept negligence.
- NamTôi sẽ sửa nó ngay lập tức.I will fix it immediately.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cẩn, sự, CC BY-SA 4.0.
