Definition

Verb: - To release, to let go, to set free: To stop holding, detaining, or pursuing someone or something; to allow to be free. - To spare, to forgive, to cease punishing: To stop inflicting harm, punishment, or blame on someone; to show mercy by no longer pursuing a grievance.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cảnh sát đã buông tha tên trộm sau khi nhận được tiền chuộc. (The police released the thief after receiving the ransom.)
  • Anh ấy cầu xin đối thủ buông tha cho mình. (He begged his opponent to spare him.)
  • Hãy buông tha quá khứ và hướng tới tương lai. (You should let go of the past and look toward the future.)
  • Con hổ sẽ không buông tha con mồi một khi đã cắn vào. (A tiger will not release its prey once it has bitten.)

Advanced Usage

• "buông tha cho ai": to spare someone, to let someone go.
  • Hắn ta van xin: "Xin ngài buông tha cho tôi!" (He pleaded: "Please, sir, spare me!")
• "buông tha một vấn đề": to drop/let go of an issue or matter.
  • Cuối cùng, họ cũng quyết định buông tha vụ kiện đó. (Finally, they decided to drop that lawsuit.)

Variants and Related Words

• Buông (verb): to let go, to release (a physical object or grip).
  • Buông tay ra! (Let go of my hand!)
• Tha (verb): to pardon, to forgive, to exempt from punishment.
  • Tha cho nó lần này. (Forgive him this time.)
• Buông bỏ (verb): to abandon, to give up (often used for abstract things like ideas, habits, or feelings).
  • Buông bỏ mọi phiền muộn. (To let go of all worries.)

Synonyms

• Thả (verb): to release, to set free (often used for animals or prisoners).
• Giải phóng (verb): to liberate, to free (often in a broader or political context).
• Tha thứ (verb): to forgive, to pardon (focuses on forgiveness).
• Bỏ qua (verb): to overlook, to let something pass (focuses on ignoring a fault).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Buông tha is typically used as a single, combined verb in Vietnamese and does not commonly separate into phrasal verb constructions like in English.

Related Idioms

• "Được voi đòi tiên" (lit. "Given an elephant, one demands a fairy"): This idiom describes greed and ingratitude. It is conceptually related to in scenarios where someone is spared () but then makes further unreasonable demands instead of being grateful.
  • Nó đã được buông tha mà còn đòi hỏi thêm, đúng là được voi đòi tiên. (He was spared but still made more demands; that's pure ingratitude.)

verb

1. To disengage, to spare