hôi của
Definition
- Verb phrase (colloquial, often derogatory):
- To acquire wealth or possessions through dishonest, corrupt, or opportunistic means. This phrase implies obtaining money, property, or assets by exploiting a situation, one's position, or other people, often in a sneaky or underhanded manner.
- To profit illicitly. It suggests benefiting from chaos, misfortune, or a lack of oversight, such as during a crisis or a period of social disorder.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Trong thời kỳ khó khăn, một số người đã hôi của từ sự thiếu thốn của người khác. (During the difficult period, some people profiteered from the shortages of others.)
- Bọn lừa đảo chuyên hôi của những người nhẹ dạ cả tin. (Scammers specialize in swindling property from gullible people.)
- Cửa hàng bị cướp, và đám đông hỗn loạn ùa vào hôi của. (The store was robbed, and the chaotic crowd rushed in to loot.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase carries a strong negative moral judgment. It is not a neutral term for "earning" or "acquiring." The action is seen as shameful and parasitic.
- It often describes behavior in specific contexts: profiteering during inflation, looting during disasters, or corrupt officials embezzling public funds.
Variants and Related Words
- Hôi (v): Literally "to smell bad" or "to be stinky." Figuratively, it can mean to act in a foul, dishonest, or contemptible way, which is the root sense in "hôi của."
- Cướp (v): to rob, to seize by force. This is more direct and violent than "hôi của."
- Tham nhũng (v/n): to be corrupt / corruption. This is a more formal term for abuse of power for personal gain, which can include "hôi của."
Synonyms
- To profiteer: To make a profit by unethical methods, especially by selling scarce goods at high prices.
- To loot: To steal goods, typically during a war or riot.
- To pilfer: To steal things of little value, but here on a larger, more systematic scale.
- To swindle: To use deception to deprive someone of money or possessions.
Related Idioms
- Hôi của chạy đi, hôi nết ở lại: A proverb meaning "Ill-gotten gains run away, but the bad character remains." It emphasizes that dishonestly acquired wealth is lost easily, but the corrupt nature of the person stays forever.
- Anh ta giàu lên nhờ hôi của, nhưng rồi cũng trắng tay, đúng là hôi của chạy đi, hôi nết ở lại. (He got rich by profiteering, but ended up with nothing; truly, ill-gotten gains run away, but the bad character remains.)