Definition

Verb: - To secretly or dishonestly take a portion of something (like money, materials, or goods) that should belong to someone else or be used for a specific purpose. This action implies cheating, embezzlement, or pilfering, often from a larger sum or quantity. - To reduce or cut down on something (like portions, amounts, or quality) in a dishonest or unauthorized way for personal gain.

Usage

The verb bớt xén is used to describe the act of illicitly skimming or appropriating a part of something. It carries a strong negative connotation of deceit and theft, often in contexts involving money, wages, materials, or resources. It is typically transitive, requiring a direct object (what is being skimmed).

Examples

• (The contractor took a rake-off on the workers' wages.)
• (To appropriate part of the material given to be processed at home is a breach of contract.)
• (Do not pilfer/skim from the students' food rations.)
• (He was discovered to have embezzled a portion of the donated funds.)

Advanced Usage

• Bớt xén often implies a repeated, habitual, or systematic action rather than a one-time theft. The perpetrator usually has a position of trust or control (e.g., a manager, contractor, supplier).
• It can be used in both concrete contexts (money, goods) and more abstract ones (time, effort, quality), though the core meaning of dishonest reduction remains.

Variants and Related Words

• Xén bớt: A variant with the same meaning and usage as bớt xén.
• Bớt (verb): To reduce, to lessen. This is the neutral base verb. Bớt xén adds the negative, dishonest connotation.
• Xén (verb): To trim, to cut off (e.g., hair, fabric). In bớt xén, it metaphorically means "to cut off a part."

Synonyms

• Tham ô: To embezzle, to misappropriate (often used for public funds or large sums).
• Ăn bớt: To take a cut, to skim off (colloquial; very similar in meaning and usage to bớt xén).
• Biển thủ: To embezzle, to peculate (formal, often legal context).
• Rút ruột: To "gut" or siphon off contents (figurative, colloquial, for goods/materials).

Idioms and Common Phrases

• Bớt xén của công: To pilfer public property/ funds.
• Bớt xén tiền chăn nuôi: To skim money from a breeding/raising fund (a common phrase highlighting misuse of allocated resources).

verb

1. To take a rake-off, to appropriate part of
   • cai thầu bớt xén tiền công của thợ
     the contractor took a rake-off on the workers' wages
   • bớt xén nguyên liệu của hàng gia công
     to appropriate part of the material given to be processed at home