cướp phá
Definition
- Verb:
- To loot and destroy: The primary meaning of "cướp phá" is to violently steal property while simultaneously causing widespread damage or vandalism. It implies a chaotic, often group-based act of robbery combined with wreckage.
- To pillage / to sack / to ransack: It describes the action of plundering a place thoroughly, typically during a riot, invasion, or period of lawlessness, leaving it devastated.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Đám đông nổi loạn đã cướp phá nhiều cửa hàng. (The riotous crowd looted and destroyed many shops.)
- Thành phố bị quân xâm lược cướp phá. (The city was sacked by the invading army.)
- Sau trận động đất, đã có hiện tượng cướp phá ở một số khu vực. (After the earthquake, there was looting and vandalism in some areas.)
Advanced Usage
- The term strongly connotes a dual action of theft ("cướp") and deliberate destruction ("phá"). It is often used in historical or news contexts describing scenes of anarchy, war, or natural disaster aftermaths.
Variants and Related Words
Cướp bóc (v): to rob, to plunder. This focuses more on the theft aspect rather than the destructive aspect.
- Bọn cướp biển thường cướp bóc các tàu buôn. (Pirates often plundered merchant ships.)
Tàn phá (v): to devastate, to ravage. This focuses on destruction, not necessarily involving theft.
- Cơn bão đã tàn phá cả vùng duyên hải. (The storm devastated the entire coastal region.)
Synonyms
- Pillage: To rob of goods by violent seizure, especially in war.
- Sack: To plunder a captured town or building.
- Ransack: To search thoroughly and disorderly, often causing damage while stealing.
- Loot and vandalize: To steal and willfully destroy property.
Related Idioms
- While "cướp phá" itself is a specific compound verb, it is central to describing scenes of chaos. A related concept is:
- Cướp của, đốt nhà: (lit. to rob possessions and burn houses) An idiom describing acts of extreme banditry and total destruction.