Definition

1. Verb:
   • To imprison / to detain: The primary meaning of "giam cầm" is to confine someone, typically in a jail, prison, or other secure location, depriving them of their liberty.
   • To hold in captivity: It can also mean to keep a person or animal in a state of confinement, not necessarily in a formal prison, such as in a room or enclosed space.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Nhà chức trách đã giam cầm tên tội phạm. (The authorities imprisoned the criminal.)
  • Họ bị giam cầm trong một căn phòng tối. (They were held captive in a dark room.)
  • Việc giam cầm người vô tội là phi pháp. (Imprisoning innocent people is illegal.)

Advanced Usage

• "giam cầm trái phép": to detain unlawfully.
  • Bọn bắt cóc đã giam cầm trái phép con tin. (The kidnappers unlawfully detained the hostage.)

Variants and Related Words

• Giam giữ (v): to hold in custody, a very close synonym often used in legal contexts.

  • Cảnh sát giam giữ nghi phạm để điều tra. (The police held the suspect in custody for investigation.)

• Bắt giam (v): to arrest and imprison.

  • Tòa án ra lệnh bắt giam bị cáo. (The court ordered the defendant to be arrested and imprisoned.)

Synonyms

• Imprison: to put or keep someone in prison.
• Confine: to keep someone restricted within certain limits.
• Incarcerate: a formal term meaning to imprison.

Related Idioms

• Giam cầm tự do: to imprison freedom (a metaphorical or literary usage).
  • Chế độ độc tài đó giam cầm tự do ngôn luận. (That dictatorial regime imprisons freedom of speech.)

1. Keep in a prison cell, place in confinement