Definition

1. Verb:
   • To pass on one's disease, especially a venereal disease: The act of transmitting an illness, particularly a sexually transmitted infection, to another person. This term carries a strong negative connotation of blame and irresponsibility.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ta đổ bệnh cho người yêu cũ. (He passed on his disease to his ex-lover.)
  • Cô ấy lo sợ bị đổ bệnh. (She is afraid of having a disease passed on to her.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is almost exclusively used in the context of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or other serious communicable diseases, implying a negligent or intentional act of transmission. It is not used for common illnesses like a cold or flu.
• The structure is typically "đổ bệnh cho ai" (to pass a disease to someone).

Variants and Related Words

• Lây bệnh: To catch/contract a disease (neutral term for becoming infected).
• Truyền bệnh: To transmit a disease (more general and clinical term).
• Bệnh hoa liễu / Bệnh lây qua đường tình dục: Venereal disease / Sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Synonyms

• Lây nhiễm cho người khác: To infect someone else.
• Truyền bệnh sang người khác: To transmit a disease to another person.

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning is the act of transmitting a disease to another person, with a strong implication that the transmitter is at fault. The reference to venereal disease (VD) is specific but the term can contextually apply to other seriously transmissible diseases.
• It is a colloquial term with a very negative connotation. It is not a polite or medical term.

1. Pass on one's disease (particularly V.D.)