뜻
Describing something very dark or black.
문화적 배경
In Vietnam, black is often associated with the North and the element of Water in the Five Elements (Ngũ Hành), but in daily life, it is the color of misfortune. People avoid buying black cars or wearing black at weddings. Gamblers are very superstitious about 'vận đen'. If they are 'đen như mực', they might perform a ritual called 'giải đen' (releasing the blackness), which often involves eating duck embryo (hột vịt lộn) in odd numbers. The idiom is used to describe the 'dark' future of the poor during the colonial era. It evokes a sense of hopelessness that is deeper than just 'bad luck'. On social media, 'đen' is often shortened to 'nhọ' (soot). 'Đen như mực' is seen as a bit more traditional/dramatic, while 'nhọ' is casual and funny.
Use for sympathy
If a friend tells you they had a bad day, saying 'Sao đen như mực vậy?' shows you understand their frustration.
Not for sadness
Don't say 'Lòng tôi đen như mực' to mean you are sad. It sounds like you have an evil heart or are just unlucky.
뜻
Describing something very dark or black.
Use for sympathy
If a friend tells you they had a bad day, saying 'Sao đen như mực vậy?' shows you understand their frustration.
Not for sadness
Don't say 'Lòng tôi đen như mực' to mean you are sad. It sounds like you have an evil heart or are just unlucky.
셀프 테스트
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Trời tối đen như ___.
The standard idiom is 'đen như mực'.
Which sentence uses the idiom to describe bad luck?
Select the correct sentence:
In this context, 'đen như mực' refers to a streak of bad luck.
Match the situation to the correct use of 'đen như mực'.
Situation: You are in a room with no windows and the lights are off.
This describes the physical darkness of the room.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Sao mặt buồn thế? B: ________, vừa mất điện thoại xong.
B is complaining about their bad luck (losing a phone).
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
연습 문제 은행
4 연습 문제Trời tối đen như ___.
The standard idiom is 'đen như mực'.
Select the correct sentence:
In this context, 'đen như mực' refers to a streak of bad luck.
Situation: You are in a room with no windows and the lights are off.
This describes the physical darkness of the room.
A: Sao mặt buồn thế? B: ________, vừa mất điện thoại xong.
B is complaining about their bad luck (losing a phone).
🎉 점수: /4
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문No, 'đen như mực' is for luck or color. To say someone is 'dark' or 'evil,' use 'hiểm độc' or 'xấu xa.'
It's a bit too informal. Better to say 'Tôi không may mắn' (I was not lucky).
Historically, ink was more culturally significant for the literate class who influenced the language.
Yes, 'Trắng như tuyết' (White as snow) or 'Trắng như bông' (White as cotton), but they don't mean 'good luck.'
You can, but it's not a standard idiom. People usually just say 'đen đặc' (thick black).
You can say 'Tối đen như mực' to emphasize darkness, but 'Đen như mực' is the base idiom.
Yes, it is universal across all regions of Vietnam.
The opposite is 'đỏ' (red). You can say 'Số tôi dạo này rất đỏ.'
Yes, if the car is a very deep, solid black.
Not at all. It's a very standard, friendly idiom.
관련 표현
Gần mực thì đen
builds onNear ink, one becomes black (bad company corrupts).
Tối như hũ nút
similarDark as a corked jar.
Đỏ như son
contrastRed like lipstick (very lucky).
Số nhọ
synonymSooty luck (unlucky).
