Definition

1. Verb:

   • To search; to inspect: To examine a place, object, or person thoroughly, often officially, to find something hidden or to check for illegal items.
   • To examine (medically): To conduct a physical or medical inspection of a person to assess their health or diagnose an illness.

2. Noun:

   • Prison; jail: A place where people are legally held as punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cảnh sát cần khám nhà của nghi phạm. (The police need to search the suspect's house.)
  • Bác sĩ sẽ khám bệnh nhân lúc 10 giờ. (The doctor will examine the patient at 10 o'clock.)
• Noun:
  • Tên tội phạm bị đưa vào khám. (The criminal was taken to jail.)

Advanced Usage

• "khám xét": to conduct a search or inspection (often legal/official).

  • Việc khám xét được tiến hành với lệnh của tòa án. (The search was conducted with a court order.)

• "khám nghiệm": to autopsy; to forensically examine.

  • Khám nghiệm tử thi giúp xác định nguyên nhân cái chết. (An autopsy helps determine the cause of death.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khám bệnh (v): to examine for illness, to have a medical check-up.

  • Bà ấy đi khám bệnh mỗi tháng một lần. (She goes for a medical examination once a month.)

• Khám phá (v): to discover, to explore (a distinct word meaning "to discover").

  • Nhà khoa học khám phá ra một loài vật mới. (The scientist discovered a new species.)

• Nhà khám (n): clinic; dispensary (a place for medical examination).

  • Nhà khám từ thiện miễn phí cho trẻ em. (The charity clinic is free for children.)

Synonyms

• Verb: Inspect, scour, frisk (for search); check, diagnose (for medical).
• Noun: Penitentiary, detention center, lockup.

Related Idioms

• Khám nhà không gõ cửa: (lit. to search a house without knocking) Refers to an unexpected or unwelcome search or intrusion.

  • Công ty thuế đến như khám nhà không gõ cửa. (The tax company arrived like an unannounced house search.)

• Vào khám ra tù: (lit. to enter for an examination and leave for prison) Means to be investigated for a minor issue but end up being convicted for a serious crime.

  • Anh ta bị bắt vì đánh nhau, giờ lại thành vào khám ra tù. (He was arrested for fighting, and now it's a case of a minor check leading to prison.)

verb

1. to search; to examine; to conduct a search
   • khám một căn nhà
     to search a house to overhaul
   • khám một người bệnh
     to overhaul a patient

noun

1. prison; jail; gaol