tough
gb/tˈʌf/ us/tˈʌf/
A2
Anh
~ 2300
Các nghĩa
0 nghĩa
adjective
A2
property
1
Hard to do or manage
Needing a lot of work or strength to do.
Mẫu sử dụng:
a tough [task/problem/decision]
Lỗi thường gặp:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tough' with 'rough' when describing difficulty. 'Rough' often refers to physical texture or harsh conditions, while 'tough' here means difficult.
Từ đồng nghĩa
difficult (More general; lacks the connotation of personal endurance often implied by 'tough'.)
Từ trái nghĩa
easy (Indicates something that requires little effort, the opposite of tough in this sense.)
Cụm từ đi kèm
tough decision
|tough choice
|tough problem
|tough situation
Chủ đề
daily life
|work
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Ví dụ
- Climbing that mountain was a tough challenge.
- It was a tough decision to leave my hometown.
- The exam was tougher than I expected.
- She faced a tough situation at work.
- This is a tough problem to solve.
Ví dụ cho người học
- This is a tough job.
- It is a tough test.
- He has a tough choice.
- That was a tough game.
- She had a tough day.
adjective
A2
property
2
Physically strong and resilient
Strong and able to keep going in hard situations.
Mẫu sử dụng:
a tough [person/athlete/soldier]
Lỗi thường gặp:
Learners may overuse 'tough' for all strong people; in some contexts 'strong' may be more natural if endurance is not implied.
Từ đồng nghĩa
strong (General term for physical power; 'tough' also implies endurance and resilience.)
Từ trái nghĩa
weak (Lacking physical strength or endurance.)
Cụm từ đi kèm
tough guy
|tough soldier
|tough competitor
Chủ đề
people
|sports
|health
|body
Ví dụ
- The boxer is known for being incredibly tough.
- She’s a tough competitor who never gives up.
- These boots are tough enough for hiking in rocky terrain.
- He proved how tough he was during military training.
- Our team needs some tough players.
Ví dụ cho người học
- He is a tough man.
- She is a tough runner.
- This bag is tough.
- The dog is tough and strong.
- My shoes are tough for long walks.
adjective
A2
property
3
Hard to chew or cut
Hard and not easy to chew or cut.
Mẫu sử dụng:
tough [meat/material]
Lỗi thường gặp:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tough' here with 'hard' meaning difficult; here it refers to physical texture.
Từ đồng nghĩa
chewy (Emphasizes the need for prolonged chewing; often less negative than 'tough'.)
Từ trái nghĩa
tender (Soft and easy to cut or chew.)
Cụm từ đi kèm
tough meat
|tough steak
|tough fabric
Chủ đề
food
|materials
|food_drink
|daily_life
Ví dụ
- The steak was overcooked and very tough.
- This leather is tough and will last for years.
- The bread had gone stale and was tough to eat.
- Her jacket is made from a tough fabric.
- These ropes are made from a tough synthetic fiber.
Ví dụ cho người học
- The meat is tough.
- My shoes are made from tough leather.
- This bread is tough now.
- The steak is too tough to eat.
- The rope is tough and strong.
adjective
informal
B1
property
4
Emotionally strong and resilient
Able to stay strong when bad things happen.
Mẫu sử dụng:
a tough [person/kid/woman]
Lỗi thường gặp:
Learners may confuse emotional toughness with rudeness; being 'tough' here means strong, not unfriendly.
Từ đồng nghĩa
resilient ('Resilient' focuses on recovery from setbacks; 'tough' suggests enduring without breaking.)
Từ trái nghĩa
sensitive (Easily affected emotionally, unlike someone described as 'tough'.)
Cụm từ đi kèm
tough kid
|tough survivor
|tough negotiator
Chủ đề
emotions
|people
|health
Ví dụ
- She’s been through a lot, but she’s tough.
- You have to be tough to work in that industry.
- He’s a tough negotiator who doesn’t back down easily.
- The coach wants players who are mentally tough.
- Growing up in poverty made her tough.
Ví dụ cho người học
- She is a tough woman.
- He is a tough boy.
- My dad is a tough man.
- You need to be tough for this job.
- She stayed tough after the bad news.
Ngữ pháp
Dạng từ điển
tough
IPA
GB/tˈʌf/
US/tˈʌf/
Âm tiết và trọng âm
tough (1 âm tiết)
Stress on 1st syllable (tough)
Các dạng từ
Adjective
- Base: tough
- Comparative: tougher
- Superlative: toughest
Họ từ
Forms
tougher
adjective
toughest
adjective
Core family
toughness
noun B2
toughen
verb
Related words
toughie
noun
Cách diễn đạt
a tough break
1/ə tˈʌf bɹˈeɪk/
idiom
informal
An unlucky setback or misfortune
Something bad that happens that makes life harder for someone.
Ví dụ
- It’s a tough break that you missed the train by just one minute.
- Getting injured before the final game was a real tough break.
a tough call
1/ə tˈʌf kˈɔl/
fixed phrase
A hard decision between options
A choice that is hard to make because both options are difficult or good in different ways.
Ví dụ
- Choosing between the two job offers was a tough call.
- It’s a tough call, but I think we should wait.
as tough as nails
1/ˈæz tˈʌf ˈæz nˈeɪlz/
idiom
informal
Very strong and hardy person
Very strong and able to keep going without showing weakness or fear.
Ví dụ
- Don’t be fooled by her size—she’s as tough as nails.
- He’s as tough as nails after years in the army.
hang tough
1/hˈæŋ tˈʌf/
idiom
informal
Stay determined under pressure
To keep going and not give up when things are hard.
Ví dụ
- Even when the team was losing badly, they managed to hang tough until the end.
- You just have to hang tough through these difficult times.