biện oan
Definition
- Verb:
- To plead innocence / to argue for one's innocence: The act of presenting a defense or explanation to prove that one is wrongly accused or suffering an injustice.
- To appeal against an unjust charge: To formally dispute or seek redress for a perceived wrongful accusation or unfair treatment.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Người tù quyết tâm biện oan trước tòa. (The prisoner is determined to plead his innocence before the court.)
- Cô ấy viết thư lên cấp trên để biện oan cho chồng mình. (She wrote a letter to the superiors to appeal for her husband, who was wrongly charged.)
- Luật sư đang giúp bị cáo biện oan. (The lawyer is helping the defendant argue his case of wrongful accusation.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in formal, legal, or serious contexts involving injustice, wrongful imprisonment, or defamation. It implies a structured effort to clear one's name.
Variants and Related Words
Kêu oan (v): to cry out about an injustice; to claim one is wronged. This is more about voicing the grievance than presenting a formal defense.
- Dân làng kêu oan vụ thu hồi đất. (The villagers are protesting the land seizure as unjust.)
Minh oan (v): to vindicate; to clear someone's name of a false charge. This often refers to the result of proving innocence.
- Bằng chứng mới đã minh oan cho ông ấy. (The new evidence vindicated him.)
Synonyms
- Plead one's case: To argue in support of oneself.
- Protest one's innocence: To declare strongly that one is not guilty.
- Appeal against injustice: To formally request a review of an unfair decision.
Related Idioms
- Oan như Thị Kính: As wronged as Thị Kính (a reference to a famous Vietnamese folk tale character who suffered grave injustice). Used to describe a state of profound and tragic wrongful accusation.
- Anh ta cảm thấy mình oan như Thị Kính. (He feels as wronged as Thị Kính.)