Bệnh Thầy Trương

Definition
  1. Proper Noun (Historical Idiom):
    • "Master Zhang's Illness": A Vietnamese idiom originating from Chinese history, referring to the feigned or strategic illness of Zhang Liang (Trương Lương), a key strategist for Liu Bang (founder of the Han Dynasty). It symbolizes using illness as a pretext to withdraw from political life, avoid danger, or retire gracefully after achieving one's goals, often to escape the jealousy of a ruler or the complexities of court politics.
Usage Examples
  • Proper Noun:
    • Sau khi giúp vua dẹp loạn, ông ấy mắc bệnh Thầy Trương để về quê ở ẩn. (After helping the king suppress the rebellion, he contracted Master Zhang's Illness to retire to his homeland.)
    • Anh ta không muốn dính vào chuyện tranh chấp đó nên giả bệnh Thầy Trương. (He didn't want to get involved in that dispute, so he feigned Master Zhang's Illness.)
Advanced Usage
  • The idiom is used metaphorically in modern contexts beyond politics. It can describe anyone strategically withdrawing from a situation (e.g., a business conflict, a social obligation) by claiming incapacity or illness to avoid negative consequences.
    • Giám đốc đột nhiên mắc bệnh Thầy Trương ngay trước cuộc họp quan trọng. (The director suddenly came down with Master Zhang's Illness right before the important meeting.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Giả bệnh (v): to feign illness.
    • Cậu bé giả bệnh để không phải đi học. (The boy feigned illness to avoid going to school.)
  • Ở ẩn (v): to live in seclusion, to retire from public life.
    • Nhà thơ quyết định ở ẩn sau nhiều năm hoạt động. (The poet decided to live in seclusion after many years of activity.)
Synonyms
  • Strategic retreat: A planned withdrawal to gain a better position.
  • Feigned illness: Pretending to be sick.
  • Taking a diplomatic leave: Exiting a situation under a polite pretext.
Related Idioms
  • Cáo bệnh: To cite illness (as an excuse). This is a more general and common term for using illness as a reason to abstain.
    • Ông ấy cáo bệnh không dự tiệc. (He cited illness and did not attend the party.)
  • Lánh đời: To withdraw from the world; to become a recluse.
    • Sự thất bại khiến anh ta muốn lánh đời. (The failure made him want to withdraw from the world.)