Definition

1. Verb:
   • To be the ringleader of; to lead (a group, typically involved in illicit activities): "Cầm đầu" means to be the person who leads, directs, or is at the head of a group, most commonly a group engaged in wrongful or illegal actions. It implies being the chief organizer or mastermind.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Hắn bị kết tội cầm đầu một đường dây buôn lậu. (He was convicted of being the ringleader of a smuggling ring.)
  • Cảnh sát đang truy lùng kẻ cầm đầu tổ chức tội phạm. (The police are hunting for the person who leads the criminal organization.)
  • Nhóm đó bị giải tán sau khi tên cầm đầu bị bắt. (That group was disbanded after its ringleader was arrested.)

Advanced Usage

• "Cầm đầu một âm mưu": to be the mastermind of a plot/conspiracy.

  • Kẻ cầm đầu âm mưu đảo chính đã bị xử tử. (The mastermind of the coup plot was executed.)

• "Bị xem là kẻ cầm đầu": to be considered the ringleader.

  • Mặc dù có nhiều người tham gia, anh ta bị xem là kẻ cầm đầu. (Although many people participated, he is considered the ringleader.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đầu sỏ (noun): ringleader, chieftain (often used in similar contexts, with a slightly stronger negative connotation).

  • Công an đã bắt giữ đầu sỏ đường dây ma túy. (The police arrested the chieftain of the drug trafficking ring.)

• Chỉ huy (verb): to command, to lead (neutral term, often for military or official groups).

  • Vị tướng chỉ huy quân đội. (The general commands the army.)

Synonyms

• Lãnh đạo (verb): to lead (general term, can be neutral or positive).
• Cầm trịch (verb): to preside over, to be in charge (more formal, often for meetings or events).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Đứng đầu (verb phrase): to stand at the head of, to lead (can be used in both neutral and negative contexts, but less specific to crime than "cầm đầu").
  • Ông ấy đứng đầu công ty. (He stands at the head of the company.)

Related Idioms

• (Không commonly used as a standalone idiom with "cầm đầu". The word itself often functions within descriptive phrases.)

verb

1. To be the ringleader of