phũ phàng
[fu˦ˀ˥ faːŋ˨˩]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(adjective) brutal, ruthless
Adjective
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Jeannette không muốn chấp nhận sự thật phũ phàng này, cảm thấy giận dỗi với tất cả.Jeannette would not accept that brutal truth and felt angry at it all.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Common questions
What does “phũ phàng” mean?
(adjective) brutal, ruthless
Is “phũ phàng” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.