Definition

1. Verb:
   • To torture; to extort (a confession): To use cruel or violent methods to interrogate someone, typically to force them to admit to a crime or reveal information.
   • To examine; to research; to investigate: To study or inquire into something carefully and systematically, often by consulting documents or comparing details.
   • To compare (prices, etc.): To examine items, especially goods or prices, side-by-side to evaluate differences in quality or cost.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to torture/extort):

  • Bọn cai ngục dùng đủ cách để khảo tù nhân. (The jailers used every method to torture the prisoners.)
  • Không ai khảo, nó đã tự khai ra mọi chuyện. (No one tortured him; he confessed everything voluntarily.)

• Verb (to examine/research):

  • Nhà sử học đang khảo nguồn gốc của phong tục này. (The historian is researching the origin of this custom.)
  • Cô ấy khảo cứu rất kỹ trước khi viết luận văn. (She researched very thoroughly before writing her thesis.)

• Verb (to compare):

  • Chị ấy đi khảo giá ở nhiều cửa hàng trước khi mua. (She went to compare prices at many stores before buying.)
  • Khảo chất lượng sản phẩm là bước quan trọng. (Comparing product quality is an important step.)

Advanced Usage

• "khảo cổ": This is a compound word meaning "archaeology" or "archaeological." It is used in academic contexts.

  • Các nhà khảo cổ đang khai quật một di chỉ. (Archaeologists are excavating a site.)

• "khảo sát": This is a compound word meaning "to survey" or "to investigate" (e.g., a site, opinions).

  • Công ty tiến hành khảo sát thị trường. (The company conducted a market survey.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khảo cứu (v): To conduct detailed research or scholarly investigation.

  • Công trình khảo cứu của ông ấy rất giá trị. (His research work is very valuable.)

• Khảo thí (v/n): To examine/test; examination. Often used in an educational context.

  • Kỳ thi khảo thí năng lực sẽ diễn ra vào tháng tới. (The competency examination will take place next month.)

• Tra khảo (v): To interrogate thoroughly, often with a connotation of using pressure. This is closer to the "torture" meaning.

  • Hắn bị cảnh sát tra khảo nhiều giờ. (He was interrogated by the police for many hours.)

Synonyms

• Tra tấn (v): To torture. (Specifically for the violent interrogation meaning).
• Nghiên cứu (v): To research, to study. (For the academic meaning).
• So sánh (v): To compare. (For the price/quality comparison meaning).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As a single verb, "khảo" does not commonly form phrasal verbs in the same way English verbs do. Its meanings are typically expressed through compound words (as listed above) or with direct objects.

Related Idioms

• "Ai khảo mà xưng": (Proverb) Literally "Who is torturing (you) that you confess?" Used to express that someone is admitting to something without being pressured, often implying the confession is suspicious or the person is overly talkative.
  • Nó kể hết chuyện nhà, đúng là "ai khảo mà xưng". (He told all the family matters; it's truly a case of confessing without being asked.)

verb

1. to torture; to extort