Definition

1. Verb:
   • To persecute to death; to cause someone to die unjustly through oppression or force: The core meaning is to inflict harm, pressure, or persecution so severe that it results in an unjust death. It implies a deliberate act of oppression leading to a fatal outcome.
   • To harass or persecute severely (can imply a fatal intent or result): While the primary focus is on a fatal outcome, the verb can also describe extreme persecution that threatens life or aims to destroy someone.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Kẻ phản bội đã bức hại nhiều đồng đội của mình. (The traitor persecuted to death many of his comrades.)
  • Trong lịch sử, nhiều nhà cải cách bị bức hại vì tư tưởng của họ. (Throughout history, many reformers were persecuted to death for their ideas.)
  • Chúng không ngừng tìm cách bức hại ông ấy. (They continuously sought ways to severely persecute him / to hound him to death.)

Advanced Usage

• "bị bức hại": This passive structure is very common and means "to be persecuted to death" or "to be hounded to death."
  • Nhiều nhà hoạt động đã bị bức hại một cách tàn nhẫn. (Many activists were brutally persecuted to death.)
• The word carries a strong connotation of injustice, victimization, and a tragic, forced end. It is often used in historical, political, or literary contexts to describe the fate of martyrs, dissidents, or innocent victims.

Variants and Related Words

• Bức tử (Verb): A near-synonym meaning "to force to die; to cause someone's death through pressure or persecution." It is often used interchangeably with , though can sometimes refer to forcing suicide, while emphasizes the persecution leading to death.
  • Áp lực công việc quá lớn có thể bức tử một người. (Extreme work pressure can drive a person to their death.)
• Hãm hại (Verb): To plot against; to harm or injure someone through treacherous means. It shares the sense of causing harm but does not necessarily imply a fatal outcome as strongly as .
• Ngược đãi (Verb): To maltreat; to abuse. This is a broader term for mistreatment, not specifically leading to death.
• Áp bức (Verb): To oppress. This is a general term for oppression, which can be a component of .

Synonyms

• Persecute to death
• Hound to death
• Cause to die unjustly through persecution

Related Idioms

• Bức hại đến cùng: To persecute relentlessly to the end.
  • Chúng quyết tâm bức hại ông ta đến cùng. (They are determined to persecute him to the bitter end.)

1. To force to die unjustifiably
   • người yêu nước bị địch bức hại
     a patriot forced to die unjustifiably by the enemy