chết xác

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The Vietnamese word "chết xác" literally translates to "to die in body" but is commonly used to describe someone who works extremely hard, often to the point of exhaustion, without receiving adequate compensation or reward for their efforts.

Explanation

• Meaning: "Chết xác" refers to the idea of working so hard that it feels like you’re "dying" from the effort, yet despite this hard work, you still struggle to make ends meet or earn enough money for basic needs.

Usage Instructions

• You can use "chết xác" when talking about someone who is overworking, especially in a context where they are not being fairly compensated. It often carries a negative connotation, suggesting that the person is sacrificing their health or well-being for little return.

Example

• Simple Example: "Anh ấy làm việc từ sáng đến tối, chết xác mà vẫn không đủ ăn."
  • Translation: "He works from morning to night, working himself to death but still not earning enough to eat."

Advanced Usage

• You might encounter "chết xác" in discussions about labor conditions, economic struggles, or personal anecdotes about work-life balance. It can be used to highlight the hardship faced by workers, especially in professions that require long hours and hard labor.

Word Variants

• Chết: Means "to die."
• Xác: Refers to "body" or "physical form."
• When combined, they convey the intense physical toll of overwork.

Different Meanings

• The phrase is primarily focused on the concept of excessive and unrecognized hard work. Unlike other uses of "chết" (die), which can refer to literal death, "chết xác" is metaphorical and emphasizes exhaustion rather than physical demise.

Synonyms

• "Làm việc như trâu": Means "to work like a buffalo," which also indicates hard work.
• "Cày cuốc": Means "to toil," often used in the context of hard manual labor.

Academic

1. (nói về mức độ làm việc) To death
   • làm việc chết xác mà vẫn không đủ ăn
     to work oneself to death without earning enough to eat