chạy giặc
Definition
- Verb:
- To flee from an enemy, to evacuate due to an enemy's approach: The act of running away or evacuating one's home and locality because enemy forces (often invaders or bandits) are approaching or attacking. This term carries a historical and collective connotation, often referring to the displacement of communities during times of war or conflict.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Khi nghe tin quân địch đến gần, dân làng phải chạy giặc ngay lập tức. (Upon hearing the news of the enemy's approach, the villagers had to flee immediately.)
- Câu chuyện của bà kể về những tháng ngày chạy giặc thời chiến tranh. (Her story is about the days of fleeing from the enemy during the war.)
- Trong lịch sử, nhiều gia đình đã phải chạy giặc nhiều lần để bảo toàn tính mạng. (Throughout history, many families had to flee from invaders multiple times to preserve their lives.)
Advanced Usage
- "Cuộc chạy giặc": This noun phrase refers to the specific event or period of fleeing.
- Cuộc chạy giặc năm ấy đã để lại nhiều ký ức đau thương. (That particular evacuation left behind many painful memories.)
- The term is often used in historical narratives, memoirs, and literature to describe the mass displacement of Vietnamese people during various conflicts.
Variants and Related Words
- Tản cư (Verb): To evacuate, to disperse from a dangerous area. This is a more formal or administrative term for relocation during war.
- Chạy loạn (Verb): To flee from chaos/riot. This can be used in contexts of civil unrest, not strictly foreign enemies.
- Di tản (Verb): To evacuate (often used in modern contexts).
Synonyms
- To evacuate: Di tản, sơ tán (more neutral/formal).
- To flee: Bỏ chạy, chạy trốn (more general, can be individual).
- To take refuge: Lánh nạn.
Notes on Meaning
- Historical Context: "Chạy giặc" is deeply rooted in Vietnamese history, evoking images of villagers gathering their belongings and escaping into the countryside or mountains to avoid advancing troops. It implies a sudden, urgent, and often dangerous exodus.
- Collective Experience: It typically describes a community action, not an individual one. The "giặc" (enemy/invader) is a key component, distinguishing it from simply running away from a natural disaster.
- Emotional Weight: The term carries connotations of fear, loss, upheaval, and survival. It is not a casual word for moving.