Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To flee from war or social unrest: To run away or escape from a dangerous area due to war, conflict, or widespread civil disorder, seeking safety and refuge.
   • To be displaced by conflict: To be forced to leave one's home or usual location because of violent upheaval.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Nhiều gia đình đã phải chạy loạn khi chiến tranh bùng nổ. (Many families had to flee from the war when the conflict erupted.)
  • Trong thời kỳ loạn lạc, dân làng chạy loạn vào rừng sâu để trốn. (During the period of turmoil, the villagers fled into the deep forest to hide.)
  • Câu chuyện kể về những người chạy loạn tìm đường vượt biên. (The story is about refugees fleeing the conflict, trying to cross the border.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase "chạy loạn" often carries a historical or literary connotation, describing mass movements of people during periods of war or significant political instability. It emphasizes the chaos, urgency, and lack of safety.
• It can be used metaphorically in a less literal sense to describe fleeing from a highly stressful, chaotic, or dangerous non-military situation, though this is less common.
  • Công ty sắp phá sản, nhân viên lo lắng như đang chạy loạn. (The company is about to go bankrupt, the employees are as anxious as if they were fleeing from chaos.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tị nạn (v/n): To seek asylum; refugee status. This is a more formal and modern legal/political term.
  • Họ xin tị nạn chính trị tại một nước thứ ba. (They sought political asylum in a third country.)
• Chạy giặc (v): An older, near-synonymous phrase meaning "to flee from the enemy/bandits."
• Di tản (v): To evacuate (often organized). This implies a more managed or official relocation from danger.
• Tháo chạy (v): To flee, to run away hastily (can be used in both military and general contexts).

Synonyms

• Chạy trốn (v): To run away, to escape (broader, not specific to war).
• Lánh nạn (v): To take refuge from disaster.

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Cảnh chạy loạn: The scene of people fleeing from war/chaos.
  • Bức tranh miêu tả cảnh chạy loạn thật xót xa. (The painting depicts a truly heartbreaking scene of people fleeing the chaos.)
• Nạn nhân của cuộc chạy loạn: Victims of the flight from war/disorder.

1. Seek safety from the war, flee from the war