Definition

1. Verb:
   • To plead guilty: To formally admit in a legal or moral context that one is responsible for a crime or wrongdoing.
   • To accept punishment/blame: To willingly bear the consequences, penalty, or blame for an action.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Bị cáo đã chịu tội trước tòa. (The defendant pleaded guilty in court.)
  • Nếu tôi nói sai, tôi xin chịu tội. (If I spoke wrongly, I willingly accept the blame.)
  • Anh ta không muốn chịu tội cho lỗi lầm của người khác. (He does not want to take the blame for someone else's mistake.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used beyond formal legal settings to express a strong, personal acceptance of moral responsibility or fault in everyday situations.
• It often implies a sense of resignation or willingness to face the consequences.

Variants and Related Words

• Nhận tội (v): to confess to a crime, to admit guilt. This is a close synonym, often used interchangeably with "chịu tội" in legal contexts.
  • Cuối cùng hắn cũng nhận tội. (He finally confessed to the crime.)

Synonyms

• Plead guilty: The primary legal synonym.
• Accept blame: To acknowledge responsibility for a fault.
• Take the punishment: To submit to a penalty.

Related Idioms

• Chịu tội thay: to take the blame/punishment for someone else.
  • Không ai có thể chịu tội thay bạn. (No one can take the punishment for you.)
• Chịu tội vạ: to bear the brunt of the blame or misfortune (often with a nuance of enduring an unjust outcome).
  • Cậu ấy phải chịu tội vạ thay cho cả nhóm. (He had to bear the brunt of the blame for the whole group.)

verb

1. to plead guilty