khai đao
Definition
- Verb (historical, military):
- To behead a person to commence a battle: An ancient ritualistic practice of executing a prisoner or a sacrificial victim by decapitation at the start of a military campaign or before a battle, intended to boost morale and ensure victory.
- To make a first strike or commence hostilities: By extension, it can refer to initiating a conflict or being the first to take aggressive action.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Tướng quân ra lệnh khai đao tên tù binh trước khi xuất quân. (The general ordered the beheading of the prisoner to commence the campaign before deploying the troops.)
- Hành động đó được coi như một lời khai đao cho cuộc chiến tranh. (That action was considered a first strike that commenced the war.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is archaic and is primarily found in historical texts, literature, or used metaphorically in modern contexts to describe a severe, decisive initial action in a conflict or competition.
Variants and Related Words
- Khai hỏa (v): to open fire, to commence shooting. This is a more modern military term.
- Đơn vị được lệnh khai hỏa. (The unit was ordered to open fire.)
Synonyms
- Decapitate to commence battle: The specific ritualistic act.
- Initiate hostilities: To begin fighting or conflict.
- Make the first move: To take the initial aggressive action.
Related Idioms
- While "khai đao" itself is not commonly part of a longer idiom, its concept is related to the idea of a decisive, often brutal, beginning.
- Mở màn cho cuộc chiến: to kick off the war (a more neutral, modern equivalent).
- Sự kiện đó đã mở màn cho cuộc chiến kéo dài. (That event kicked off the prolonged war.)