Definition

1. Verb (formal/literary):
   • To desert, to flee, to abscond: To secretly and illegally leave a place, especially to escape from military service, duty, or captivity. It carries a strong connotation of abandoning one's post or responsibility.
   • To defect: To abandon one's country, cause, or allegiance, often for political reasons, and go over to another side.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Người lính đó đã đào tẩu khỏi doanh trại. (That soldier deserted the barracks.)
  • Nhà khoa học đào tẩu sang một quốc gia khác. (The scientist defected to another country.)
  • Tên tội phạm đang lên kế hoạch đào tẩu. (The criminal is planning to flee.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "đào tẩu" is considered formal and is often used in historical, military, or political contexts. It is stronger and more specific than the more common word "bỏ trốn" (to run away).
• It can be used as a noun in the form "kẻ đào tẩu" (a deserter, a defector).

Variants and Related Words

• Bỏ trốn (v): to run away, to escape. (A more common, general term.)
• Đào ngũ (v): to desert from the army, to go AWOL. (Specifically military.)
• Trốn chạy (v): to flee, to escape.

Synonyms

• Desert: To leave (a cause, country, or army) without permission or with the intent not to return.
• Defect: To abandon one's country or cause in favor of an opposing one.
• Flee: To run away from a place or situation of danger.
• Abscond: To leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection or arrest.

Related Idioms

• While "đào tẩu" itself is not typically part of a common idiom, the concept is central to phrases like:
  • "Đào tẩu sang phe địch": to defect to the enemy side.

    • Viên tướng bị nghi ngờ đào tẩu sang phe địch. (The general was suspected of defecting to the enemy side.)

1. (cũ) Run away, take to flight, flee