Definition

1. Verb:
   • To exploit: To treat someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work, typically by paying them very little for hard work or taking an excessive profit. This is the core meaning, describing the unjust appropriation of the value created by another's labor.
   • To fleece / To rip off (informal): To charge someone a price that is far too high and unfair; to swindle or cheat someone financially.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to exploit):
  • Chủ nhà máy bóc lột công nhân bằng cách bắt họ làm việc nhiều giờ với đồng lương rẻ mạt. (The factory owner exploited the workers by making them work long hours for meager wages.)
  • Chế độ đó dựa trên việc bóc lột nông dân. (That regime was based on the exploitation of peasants.)
• Verb (to fleece/rip off):
  • Cửa hàng du lịch đó bóc lột khách nước ngoài. (That tourist shop fleeces foreign visitors.)
  • Anh ta cảm thấy bị bóc lột khi mua chiếc xe với giá quá cao. (He felt ripped off after buying the car at an inflated price.)

Advanced Usage

• The term carries a strong negative moral and socio-economic judgment. It is commonly used in political, economic, and social critiques.
• "bóc lột sức lao động": to exploit labor power. This is a standard phrase in political economy.
  • Giá trị thặng dư được tạo ra từ việc bóc lột sức lao động. (Surplus value is created from the exploitation of labor power.)
• "bóc lột đến tận xương tủy" (idiomatic): to exploit to the marrow; to bleed someone dry. This emphasizes extreme and ruthless exploitation.
  • Bọn địa chủ bóc lột nông dân đến tận xương tủy. (The landlords exploited the peasants to the marrow.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sự bóc lột (n): Exploitation. The noun form describing the system, act, or process.
  • Sự bóc lột là đặc trưng của chủ nghĩa tư bản theo Marx. (Exploitation is a characteristic of capitalism according to Marx.)
• Kẻ bóc lột (n): Exploiter. The person or class that performs the exploitation.
  • Giai cấp thống trị là kẻ bóc lột. (The ruling class are the exploiters.)

Synonyms

• Exploit: To use someone unfairly for your own advantage (primary synonym).
• Fleece: To take a lot of money from someone by overcharging or tricking them.
• Oppress: To govern or treat someone cruelly or unfairly.
• Take advantage of: To use a situation or person unfairly for your own benefit.

Related Idioms

• Bóc lột đến xương tủy: As mentioned in Advanced Usage, this means to exploit someone utterly and mercilessly, leaving them with nothing.
• Hút máu, hút tủy (to suck blood, to suck marrow): A very vivid and severe synonym for extreme exploitation.

verb

1. to sweat, to rob; to plunder