bé miệng

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The Vietnamese word "bé miệng" can be understood literally as "small mouth," but its figurative meaning is more important, especially for learners. It describes someone who is not powerful enough to make themselves heard, someone who feels weak, powerless, or lacking authority in a situation.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "bé miệng" to describe a person who feels they cannot express their opinions strongly or assertively.
• It can be applied in both personal and professional contexts, such as when someone feels overlooked in a group discussion or unable to influence decisions.

Examples:

1. In a Meeting:

   • "Trong cuộc họp, tôi cảm thấy mình bé miệng khi không ai lắng nghe ý kiến của tôi."
   • (In the meeting, I felt powerless when no one listened to my opinion.)

2. In a Group:

   • "Khi bạn bè quyết định đi đâu, tôi chỉ có thể đồng ý, vì tôi bé miệng."
   • (When my friends decided where to go, I could only agree because I felt powerless.)

Advanced Usage:

• You might use "bé miệng" in more complex sentences to convey irony or sarcasm. For example, you might say, "Dù tôi có bé miệng, nhưng tôi vẫn có những ý tưởng tuyệt vời."
  • (Even though I feel powerless, I still have great ideas.)

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "bé miệng," but you could use related phrases like "không có tiếng nói" (without a voice) to convey a similar idea.

Different Meanings:

• While "bé miệng" primarily refers to someone feeling powerless or unheard, it can also describe situations where the opinions or ideas expressed are not taken seriously or are dismissed.

Synonyms:

• Some synonyms that convey a similar sense of powerlessness include:
  • "yếu ớt" (weak)
  • "không có sức ảnh hưởng" (not influential)
  • "im lặng" (silent, quiet)

Academic

1. Not powerful enough to make oneself hear, powerless, without authority