đắc chí
[ʔɗak̚˧˦ t͡ɕi˧˦]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(adjective) content; satisfied; smug
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Đứa tiểu nhân đắc chí, dần dà mưu đồ làm việc không hay.The villain, [when] satisfied, will gradually plot misdeeds.
Quoted attestation: 1804, Ngô Gia Văn Phái (Ngô Household's Writers), Hoàng Lê Nhất Thống Chí (Records of the Unification of the Imperial Lê), Ch. 8; Vietnamese translation by Ngô Đức Vân & Kiều Thu Hoạch
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(adverb) contently, smugly, complacently
Common questions
What does “đắc chí” mean?
(adjective) content; satisfied; smug
Is “đắc chí” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.