buôn lậu

Definition

Verb:
- To smuggle: The primary meaning of "buôn lậu" is to illegally transport goods into or out of a country to avoid paying taxes or because the goods are prohibited.
Noun (as a concept or activity):
- Smuggling: Refers to the illegal activity or trade itself.

Usage Examples

Verb:
- Họ bị cáo buộc buôn lậu hàng điện tử qua biên giới. (They are accused of smuggling electronics across the border.)
- Bọn tội phạm đã buôn lậu ma túy trong nhiều năm. (The criminals have smuggled drugs for many years.)
Noun:
- Buôn lậu là một vấn đề nghiêm trọng đối với an ninh quốc gia. (Smuggling is a serious problem for national security.)
- Cơ quan chức năng đang đẩy mạnh chiến dịch chống buôn lậu. (The authorities are intensifying the anti-smuggling campaign.)

Advanced Usage

The term "buôn lậu" inherently implies illegality and secrecy. It is often used in contexts involving national borders, customs, and law enforcement.
It can be modified to specify the type of goods, e.g., "buôn lậu vũ khí" (arms smuggling), "buôn lậu người" (human trafficking).

Variants and Related Words

Kẻ buôn lậu / Tên buôn lậu (n): smuggler.
- Những kẻ buôn lậu đã bị bắt tại cửa khẩu. (The smugglers were arrested at the border gate.)
Hàng lậu (n): smuggled goods, contraband.
- Cảnh sát thu giữ một lượng lớn hàng lậu. (The police seized a large quantity of contraband.)
Buôn bán trái phép (v/n): to trade illegally / illegal trading. (A broader term that can include smuggling.)

Synonyms

Smuggle: to move goods illegally across borders.
Traffic (in): often used for illegal trade in serious contraband like drugs or people.
Run contraband: a more specific phrase for smuggling.

Related Idioms and Phrases

Buôn lậu qua biên giới: to smuggle across the border.
- Đường dây buôn lậu qua biên giới này rất tinh vi. (This cross-border smuggling ring is very sophisticated.)
Chống buôn lậu: anti-smuggling.
- Lực lượng chống buôn lậu hoạt động ngày đêm. (The anti-smuggling force operates day and night.)