Definition

1. Verb:
   • To kill, to murder: The primary meaning of "giết hại" is to cause the death of a living being, especially a person. It strongly implies an act of violence, often with connotations of brutality, cruelty, or an unjust, immoral purpose. It is a more severe and condemnatory term than the neutral "giết" (to kill).

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Kẻ phạm tội đã bị buộc tội giết hại ba người. (The criminal was charged with murdering three people.)
  • Hành động giết hại thú vật hoang dã là trái pháp luật. (The act of killing wild animals is illegal.)
  • Chiến tranh đã giết hại nhiều dân thường vô tội. (The war killed many innocent civilians.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "giết hại" is often used in legal, journalistic, or formal contexts to describe homicide, massacre, or slaughter. It carries a strong moral judgment, suggesting the act is savage, inhumane, or committed for an illegitimate reason.

Variants and Related Words

• Giết (v): to kill. This is the more general, neutral term.
  • Anh ta giết con gà để làm thức ăn. (He killed the chicken for food.)
• Sát hại (v): to slaughter, to assassinate. Very similar in meaning and severity to "giết hại," often used interchangeably.
• Tàn sát (v): to massacre, to slaughter en masse.
  • Kẻ thù tàn sát cả một ngôi làng. (The enemy massacred an entire village.)

Synonyms

• Murder: to kill (a human) unlawfully and with premeditation.
• Slay: to kill violently.
• Slaughter: to kill (people or animals) in a violent or cruel way, especially in large numbers.

Related Idioms

• Giết hại lẫn nhau: to kill each other.
  • Hai bè phái thù hằn và giết hại lẫn nhau. (The two factions harbored hatred and killed each other.)
• Giết hại dân lành: to kill innocent civilians/people.
  • Tội ác giết hại dân lành không thể tha thứ. (The crime of killing innocent people is unforgivable.)

verb

1. to kill, to murder