Definition

1. Verb:

   • To rise up in arms; to start/launch an uprising: This is the core meaning. It describes the organized act of taking up weapons and rebelling against an oppressive or unjust ruling power, with the aim of overthrowing it. It implies a collective, armed struggle for political or social change.

2. Noun:

   • An uprising; an insurrection: Refers to the event or instance of such an armed rebellion.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Nguyễn Nhạc, Nguyễn Huệ khởi nghĩa ở Tây Sơn. (Nguyen Nhac and Nguyen Hue rose up in arms at Tay Son.)
  • Nhân dân khởi nghĩa chống lại ách đô hộ. (The people launched an uprising against the yoke of domination.)

• Noun:

  • Cuộc khởi nghĩa đó đã đi vào lịch sử. (That uprising has gone down in history.)
  • Họ lên kế hoạch cho một cuộc khởi nghĩa. (They planned an insurrection.)

Advanced Usage

• The term carries a strong connotation of legitimacy and righteous struggle from the perspective of the rebels. It is typically used for historical or politically significant rebellions, not for minor mutinies or coups.
• It is often part of compound nouns naming specific historical events, e.g., (Lam Son Uprising), (Yen Bai Uprising).

Variants and Related Words

• Nổi dậy (v): to rise up, to revolt. A close synonym, sometimes used interchangeably with , but can be slightly broader.
• Bạo động (n): riot, violent disturbance. Generally implies a more spontaneous or less organized violent protest, without the same level of political aim as .
• Cách mạng (n): revolution. A broader term that may encompass an uprising () but refers to the entire transformative process, not just the initial armed act.

Synonyms

• To revolt
• To rebel
• To insurrect (less common)

Related Idioms

• Phất cờ khởi nghĩa: Literally "to raise the flag of uprising." It means to officially declare and begin the rebellion.
  • Họ phất cờ khởi nghĩa tại vùng núi. (They raised the flag of rebellion in the mountainous region.)

1. Rise up in arms (against an opperessive rule)
   • Nguyễn Nhạc, Nguyễn Huệ khởi nghĩa ở Tây Sơn
     Nguyen Nhac and Nguyen Hue rose up in arms at Tay Son (against the oppressive ruling dynasty)