The Vietnamese word "cay đắng" translates to "bitter" in English, but it has a deeper meaning that goes beyond just taste. It is often used to describe feelings of disappointment, sadness, or hardship that people experience in life.
While "cay đắng" primarily conveys emotional pain, it can also refer to actual bitterness in taste, such as in food or beverages. However, the emotional context is much more prevalent in everyday conversation.