Definition

1. Verb:
   • To defend: To protect someone or something from attack, criticism, or harm by providing support or justification for their actions or position.
   • To support / To stand up for: To take the side of a person, group, or principle, especially when they are being criticized or treated unfairly.
   • To champion / To uphold: To argue for, protect, or fight for a cause, right, or idea that one believes is just or correct.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh luôn bênh vực em trai mình. (He always defends his younger brother.)
  • Luật sư bênh vực quyền lợi của thân chủ. (The lawyer defends the client's interests.)
  • Cô ấy dũng cảm bênh vực lẽ phải. (She courageously champions the truth.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb often implies a moral or ethical stance, suggesting the defender is opposing a perceived injustice or imbalance of power.
• It can be used in both personal contexts (defending a friend) and abstract contexts (defending a principle or truth).

Variants and Related Words

• Bảo vệ (v): To protect, to guard. This word is broader and can refer to physical protection or security, not just verbal or ideological defense.
  • Bảo vệ Tổ quốc. (To protect the Fatherland.)
• Ủng hộ (v): To support, to back. This generally means to agree with and assist, but lacks the strong connotation of defending against an attack or accusation present in "bênh vực".
  • Ủng hộ một đề xuất. (To support a proposal.)

Synonyms

• Defend: To protect from harm or danger.
• Stand up for: To support or defend a person or idea.
• Champion: To fight for or defend a cause.
• Uphold: To maintain or support a principle or law.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Bênh vực kẻ yếu: To defend the weak.
  • Anh ấy có thói quen bênh vực kẻ yếu. (He has a habit of defending the weak.)
• Lên tiếng bênh vực: To speak up in defense.
  • Không ai dám lên tiếng bênh vực cho anh ta. (No one dared to speak up in his defense.)

verb

1. To uphold (the cause of), to support, to defend, to champion
   • bênh vực quyền lợi giai cấp
     to uphold one's class interests
   • lên tiếng bênh vực lẽ phải
     to raise one's voice to defend the truth