Definition

1. Verb:
   • To demote, to degrade (in rank or position): "biếm" refers to the official act of lowering someone's rank, status, or position, typically within a bureaucratic or court system. This is an archaic term primarily used in historical contexts.
   • To censure, to criticize harshly (in a formal or official capacity): In a broader sense, it can imply a severe official reprimand or condemnation that accompanies or is equivalent to a demotion.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Nhà vua quyết định biếm chức vị quan tham nhũng. (The king decided to demote the corrupt mandarin.)
  • Trong lịch sử, nhiều trung thần đã bị biếm xuống làm quan ở vùng biên ải xa xôi. (In history, many loyal officials were demoted to serve in remote border regions.)
  • Lời tấu của ông khiến vua giận, cuối cùng ông bị biếm. (His memorial angered the king, and he was ultimately demoted.)

Advanced Usage

• "bị biếm": to be demoted. This is the most common collocation, describing the passive state of receiving a demotion.
  • Sau vụ việc đó, ông ta bị biếm về làm tri huyện. (After that incident, he was demoted to serve as a district magistrate.)
• "biếm chức": to demote (from a position).
  • Hội đồng kỷ luật có thể biếm chức nhân viên vi phạm. (The disciplinary council can demote employees who violate rules.)

Variants and Related Words

• Biếm truất (verb, archaic): To dismiss from office; to depose. A stronger term than "biếm," implying removal.
• Giáng chức (verb): To demote. This is the modern, standard Vietnamese equivalent of "biếm."
• Cách chức (verb): To dismiss from a position; to strip of a title. This often implies a more severe penalty than a demotion.

Synonyms

• Giáng chức: To demote (modern synonym).
• Hạ bậc: To lower in rank or grade.
• Khiển trách: To reprimand, to censure (focuses on the criticism rather than the positional change).

Notes on Usage

• "Biếm" is an archaic term. It is almost exclusively encountered in historical texts, literature, or discussions about feudal Vietnam's court systems. In modern administrative or corporate language, "giáng chức" is always used.
• The reference definition "to crab; to damn" is an older, perhaps overly literal or contextual translation. The core meaning relates to official demotion or degradation, not general cursing.

verb

1. to crab; to damn