cầm giữ
Definition
Verb:
- To hold and keep / to retain: To physically hold something and keep it in one's possession, often implying control or custody over it.
- To detain / to hold in custody: To officially keep someone in a restricted place, such as by legal authority (e.g., police detention).
Verb (extended usage):
- To withhold / to keep back: To refuse to give something to its rightful owner, often temporarily.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cảnh sát cầm giữ giấy tờ của người lái xe. (The police held onto the driver's documents.)
- Họ bị cầm giữ tại đồn công an để lấy lời khai. (They were detained at the police station for questioning.)
- Công ty cầm giữ hàng hóa cho đến khi nhận được thanh toán. (The company withheld the goods until payment was received.)
Advanced Usage
"bị cầm giữ": to be held/detained.
- Chiếc xe đã bị cầm giữ làm vật chứng. (The vehicle was held as evidence.)
"quyền cầm giữ": right of retention/lien.
- Chủ nhà có quyền cầm giữ tài sản nếu khách không trả tiền thuê. (The landlord has a right of retention over the property if the tenant does not pay rent.)
Variants and Related Words
Tạm giữ (v): to hold temporarily, to impound.
- Tài sản bị tạm giữ 30 ngày. (The assets were impounded for 30 days.)
Giam giữ (v): to imprison, to incarcerate.
- Bị cáo bị giam giữ chờ ngày xét xử. (The defendant was imprisoned awaiting trial day.)
Synonyms
- Detain: To keep someone in official custody.
- Retain: To continue to hold or keep possession of something.
- Withhold: To refuse to give something that is due.
Related Idioms
- Cầm giữ con tin: to hold hostages.
- Nhóm khủng bố đã cầm giữ con tin trong ngân hàng. (The terrorist group held hostages in the bank.)
