Definition

1. Verb:
   • To appropriate part of something for oneself, to embezzle a portion: The act of dishonestly taking a part of something (especially money or goods) that belongs to someone else or that one is supposed to deliver in full. It implies skimming, siphoning off, or pocketing a portion.
   • To shortchange, to cheat someone out of a part of what is due: To deliberately give less than the full amount owed, keeping the difference for oneself.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Công ty vận chuyển bị phát hiện ăn chặn tiền cước của khách hàng. (The transport company was found to have appropriated part of the customers' shipping fees.)
  • Anh ta ăn chặn tiền mua nguyên liệu rồi báo cáo giá cao hơn. (He pocketed part of the money for buying materials and then reported a higher price.)
  • Không được ăn chặn tiền từ thiện. (Do not embezzle a portion of the charity money.)

Advanced Usage

• "ăn chặn tiền": to embezzle/skim money.
  • Viên chức tham nhũng đó đã ăn chặn tiền ngân sách. (That corrupt official embezzled part of the budget money.)
• "ăn chặn hàng": to pilfer/short-ship goods.
  • Tài xế xe tải bị cáo buộc ăn chặn hàng hóa. (The truck driver is accused of pilfering part of the goods.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ăn bớt (verb): A very close synonym, meaning to take a portion for oneself dishonestly. Often used interchangeably with "ăn chặn," though "ăn bớt" can sometimes imply a smaller, more routine theft.
  • Người bán hàng ăn bớt khối lượng để kiếm lời. (The seller short-weighs the goods to make a profit.)
• Tham ô (verb): To embezzle, to misappropriate (often larger sums or public funds). This is a more formal and serious term.
  • Bị kết tội tham ô tài sản nhà nước. (Charged with embezzling state property.)
• Biển thủ (verb): To embezzle, to peculate. Another formal synonym, often used in legal contexts.

Synonyms

• To embezzle: To steal or misappropriate (money placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer). (Formal equivalent)
• To skim (off): To take a portion of money dishonestly, especially from a large sum passing through one's hands.
• To pilfer: To steal (things of little value) in small quantities. (Often for goods)
• To shortchange: To give less than the correct amount of change; to cheat someone by giving less than what is due. (Common for money in transactions)

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As "ăn chặn" is a Vietnamese verb, it does not have English phrasal verb equivalents. The synonyms above serve the same function.

Related Idioms

• "Ăn trên đầu trên cổ (người khác)": To exploit others ruthlessly, to take advantage in a domineering way. This idiom shares the thematic concept of unjustly taking from others but is more severe and broad than "ăn chặn."
  • Hắn ta làm giàu bằng cách ăn trên đầu trên cổ công nhân. (He got rich by ruthlessly exploiting the workers.)

verb

1. To appropriate part of
   • chúng dám ăn chặn lương hưu của nhiều cựu chiến binh
     they dared appropriate part of many war veterans' retirement pension