chè lá

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun (slang, vulgar):
    • Bribe; baksheesh; illicit payment: A sum of money or other inducement given secretly and dishonestly to someone, especially a public official, to persuade them to act in one's favor or to expedite a service.
    • "Tea and cigarettes money": A colloquial and euphemistic term, literally "tea leaf money," referring to a small, informal bribe or tip given to facilitate a process or gain a minor favor.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • Muốn việc được giải quyết nhanh, anh ta phải đưa chè lá. (To get the matter resolved quickly, he had to give a bribe.)
    • Tiền chè lá cho trưởng trước khi lên quan. (Bribe money for the village headman before going to the yamen.)
Advanced Usage
  • The term is often used in the fixed phrase "tiền chè lá" (bribe money). It implies a transactional, often corrupt, payment to grease the wheels of bureaucracy or authority.
  • It typically refers to smaller, routine bribes rather than large-scale corruption.
Variants and Related Words
  • Hối lộ (v/n): To bribe / a bribe. This is the standard, formal term for bribery.
    • Hắn bị bắt tội hối lộ. (He was arrested for bribery.)
  • Phong bì (n): Literally "envelope." Often used metonymically to refer to a discreet cash bribe placed inside an envelope.
    • Công việc bị đình trệ nếu không phong bì. (The work stalls without an "envelope.")
Synonyms
  • Bribe: Money or favor given to influence someone's actions.
  • Backhander (informal): A secret bribe.
  • Grease money (slang): Money paid to expedite service.
  • Baksheesh: A tip, gratuity, or small bribe, especially in some Asian and Middle Eastern contexts.
Related Idioms
  • " tiền mua tiên cũng được" / " tiền quyền": Idioms meaning "With money you can buy even a fairy" / "With money comes power," reflecting the cultural context where bribery ("chè lá") is sometimes perceived as a necessary tool.
  • "Đi đêm": Literally "to go at night," meaning to engage in underhanded or secret dealings, which can include offering bribes.
  1. Tea and cigarettes, baksheesh, bribe
    • tiền chè lá cho trưởng trước khi lên quan
      to give bribes to the village headman before going to the yamen