Definition

Verb phrase: - To pay with one's life; to atone for a murder with one's life: The act of compensating for taking a life by forfeiting one's own life or by providing a life as compensation, often in the context of retributive justice or ancient customary law.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Kẻ sát nhân phải đền mạng cho nạn nhân. (The murderer must pay with his life for the victim.)
  • Theo luật lệ thời xưa, kẻ giết người sẽ bị bắt đền mạng. (According to ancient law, a killer would be forced to atone with his life.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is strongly associated with historical, customary, or poetic contexts rather than modern legal systems. It implies a direct, often fatal, retribution.
• It can be used metaphorically in a very serious, non-literal sense to describe bearing an extreme consequence.
  • Anh ta đã phạm sai lầm lớn và giờ phải đền mạng bằng cả sự nghiệp của mình. (He made a grave mistake and now must pay for it with his entire career.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đền tội (verb phrase): To atone for a sin/crime. (A broader term for atonement.)
• Đền bù mạng sống (verb phrase): To compensate for a life. (A more descriptive, less idiomatic phrase.)
• Trả giá bằng mạng sống (verb phrase): To pay the price with one's life. (A descriptive equivalent.)

Synonyms

• Pay with one's life: The direct English equivalent.
• Atone with one's life: Emphasizes the aspect of making amends.
• Forfeit one's life: Emphasizes the loss incurred as payment.

Related Idioms

• Ăn miếng trả miếng, đánh một đền hai: Tit for tat, strike one and get two in return. (This idiom reflects a retaliatory principle but is less specific than "đền mạng".)
• Mạng đền mạng: A life for a life. (This is a noun phrase stating the principle behind the verb "đền mạng".)

1. Pay retributive compensation for a murder