Definition

Verb: - To entreat, to beseech, to implore: To ask someone for something in a very sincere, urgent, and humble manner, often with a sense of desperation or deep need. It implies a strong emotional appeal, typically directed towards a person in authority, a deity, or someone whose help is desperately needed.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Người dân cầu khẩn chính quyền hỗ trợ sau trận lũ. (The people entreated the authorities for support after the flood.)
  • Cô ấy cầu khẩn bác sĩ cứu sống con mình. (She implored the doctor to save her child's life.)
  • Trong cơn hoạn nạn, anh ta chỉ biết cầu khẩn thần linh. (In times of calamity, he could only beseech the deities.)

Advanced Usage

• "cầu khẩn van xin": To beg and plead desperately. This compound phrase intensifies the sense of humble and persistent begging.
  • Kẻ tội phạm cầu khẩn van xin tòa án khoan hồng. (The criminal begged and pleaded for the court's leniency.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cầu xin (verb): To beg, to plead for. This is a close synonym but can sometimes be used in slightly less formal or desperate contexts than "cầu khẩn".
  • Nó cầu xin mẹ cho đi chơi. (He begged his mother to let him go out.)
• Khẩn cầu (verb): To urgently beseech. This is a variant with the same meaning as "cầu khẩn", emphasizing urgency.
  • Mọi người khẩn cầu mưa thuận gió hòa. (Everyone urgently beseeched for favorable weather.)
• Khẩn khoản (verb): To earnestly plead or persuade. It focuses on earnest and sincere persuasion.
  • Anh ấy khẩn khoản mời vị khách quý ở lại. (He earnestly pleaded with the distinguished guest to stay.)

Synonyms

• Nài nỉ: To persistently beg or urge.
• Van nài: To beseech, to implore (similar to "cầu khẩn" but can imply more vocal pleading).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As a verb, "cầu khẩn" itself is not typically part of phrasal verb constructions in Vietnamese. Its meaning is contained within the single word.

Related Idioms

• "Chắp tay cầu khẩn": To clasp hands and beseech. This describes the physical act of praying or begging with hands together.
  • Bà lão chắp tay cầu khẩn trước bàn thờ. (The old woman clasped her hands and beseeched before the altar.)

verb

1. To entreat, to beseech
   • cầu khẩn thần thánh phù hộ cho
     to entreat help from deities
   • cầu khẩn lòng thương
     to beseech pity (from someone), to entreat someone to show mercy