Definition

1. Verb:
   • To defend (in a legal context): To act as legal counsel for someone accused of a crime, presenting arguments and evidence to protect their rights and argue for their innocence or a reduced sentence.
   • To justify / to make excuses for: To attempt to explain or provide reasons for an action, behavior, or policy that is being criticized, often to lessen the perceived blame or fault.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Luật sư bào chữa cho bị cáo rất tận tâm. (The lawyer defended the accused very diligently.)
  • Anh ấy luôn tìm cách bào chữa cho những sai lầm của mình. (He always finds ways to justify his mistakes.)
  • Bài báo đó bào chữa cho chính sách mới. (That article defends the new policy.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a formal or legal connotation. In everyday speech, when used outside a legal setting, it can imply a defensive or excuse-making tone, sometimes perceived negatively.
• "bào chữa cho mình": to defend oneself, to make excuses for oneself.
  • Cô ấy không nghe lời giải thích, cô ấy chỉ đang bào chữa cho mình. (She isn't listening to reason; she is just defending herself.)

Variants and Related Words

• Biện hộ (v): to plead, to argue in defense of. This is a very close synonym, often used interchangeably with bào chữa in legal contexts.

  • Luật sư biện hộ (defense lawyer).

• Bênh vực (v): to stand up for, to protect. This is more general and emotional, not specifically legal.

  • Anh ấy luôn bênh vực bạn bè. (He always stands up for his friends.)

Synonyms

• Defend: To support against challenge or criticism.
• Plead for: To make an emotional or earnest appeal on behalf of someone.
• Justify: To show or prove to be right or reasonable.
• Make excuses for: To attempt to lessen the blame for.

Related Idioms

• While there is no direct idiom with , the concept is related to phrases like:
  • "Đổ lỗi": to blame. This is often what one tries to avoid by bào chữa.
  • "Chối tội": to deny guilt. This is different from bào chữa, which involves arguing in defense rather than simple denial.

verb

1. To defend, to plead for, to act as counsel for
   • luật sư bào chữa cho bị cáo
     lawyers defend the accused
   • những luận điệu bào chữa cho chính sách thực dân
     propaganda defending a colonialist policy