The Vietnamese phrase "hỏng bét" is an informal expression that means something has completely failed or gone wrong. It is often used to describe situations that have turned out badly or are utterly unsuccessful.
Situation: You tried to bake a cake, but it burned completely.
Situation: You had a project at work that did not meet expectations.
In more complex discussions, "hỏng bét" can also be used metaphorically to describe broader concepts, like plans or relationships that have gone wrong: - Example: "Mối quan hệ của họ đã hỏng bét từ lâu." (Their relationship has been a complete failure for a long time.)
While "hỏng bét" primarily means utter failure, "hỏng" alone can mean broken or damaged, and "bét" can imply a poor quality or state in different contexts.
In summary, "hỏng bét" is a colloquial way of saying something has gone terribly wrong or has failed completely.