Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Illegal: Not allowed by law; against the law. This is the most direct and common translation.
   • Illicit: Forbidden by law, rules, or custom, often with a connotation of being morally wrong or socially unacceptable.
   • Illegitimate: Not authorized by law; lacking legal or official sanction.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Hành vi đó là bất hợp pháp. (That act is illegal.)
  • Chính phủ đang đàn áp các hoạt động bất hợp pháp. (The government is cracking down on illicit activities.)
  • Đây là một chính phủ bất hợp pháp. (This is an illegitimate government.)

Advanced Usage

• "bất hợp pháp hóa": to illegalize, to make something illegal.
  • Luật mới bất hợp pháp hóa việc sử dụng chất này. (The new law illegalizes the use of this substance.)

Variants and Related Words

• Phi pháp (adj): unlawful, illegal. Often used interchangeably with "bất hợp pháp" but can sound slightly more formal or literary.

  • hành động phi pháp (unlawful action)

• Trái pháp luật (adj phrase): contrary to law, illegal. A more descriptive phrase with the same core meaning.

  • hành vi trái pháp luật (illegal behavior)

Synonyms

• Illegal: Prohibited by law.
• Unlawful: Not conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law.
• Illicit: Unlawful, especially relating to activities that are morally or socially disapproved of (e.g., illicit trade).
• Illegitimate: Not in accordance with the law; not authorized.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Con đường bất hợp pháp: the illegal path.

  • Hắn ta đã chọn con đường bất hợp pháp để làm giàu. (He chose the illegal path to get rich.)

• Lợi nhuận bất hợp pháp: illicit profits.

  • Công ty bị buộc tội thu lợi nhuận bất hợp pháp. (The company was accused of earning illicit profits.)

adj

1. Illegal, illicit, illegitimate