bắt khoán
Definition
- Verb (historical/archaic):
- To impose a fine or a penalty: The term refers to the act of levying a monetary or material punishment for an offense, typically within a historical or traditional communal context.
- To enforce a contractual penalty: It can mean to hold someone to a forfeit or penalty as stipulated in a traditional agreement or bond.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Làng xưa có quyền bắt khoán người vi phạm luật lệ. (In the past, the village had the right to impose a fine on those who broke the rules.)
- Hai bên đã thỏa thuận, nếu ai không giữ lời sẽ bị bắt khoán. (The two parties agreed that whoever broke their word would be penalized.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily found in historical texts or discussions of traditional Vietnamese village governance and customary law. It describes a specific form of justice and social contract enforcement that is largely obsolete in modern legal contexts.
Variants and Related Words
- Khoán (n): A bond, contract, or agreement, often with stipulated penalties.
- Phạt (v): The modern and general verb meaning "to punish" or "to fine."
Synonyms
- To fine: To impose a monetary penalty.
- To penalize: To subject to a penalty or punishment.
Related Idioms
- Chịu khoán: To accept or be subject to the penalty of a bond or agreement.
- Ai làm hỏng việc thì phải chịu khoán. (Whoever ruins the task must bear the penalty.)