Definition

1. Verb:
   • To criticize and self-criticize: To examine, discuss, and evaluate one's own or others' mistakes and shortcomings, typically in a formal or organizational context, to identify their origins and correct them.
   • To review and discuss (for verification): To inspect and deliberate on whether something is correct or not.

Usage

• Verb:
  • The primary usage involves a formal process of criticism, often within a political, party, or work unit setting, where individuals or groups analyze errors.
  • It implies a structured, often written, process of acknowledging faults and proposing corrections.

Examples

• Verb:
  • Sau sự cố, anh ấy phải kiểm thảo trước toàn thể ban lãnh đạo. (After the incident, he had to criticize and self-criticize before the entire board of directors.)
  • Mọi thành viên đều phải kiểm thảo về những khuyết điểm trong quý vừa qua. (All members must conduct a review and self-criticism regarding the shortcomings of the past quarter.)
  • Tổ chức một buổi kiểm thảo để rút kinh nghiệm chung. (Organize a criticism/self-criticism session to draw collective lessons.)

Advanced Usage

• "làm bản kiểm thảo": To write a self-criticism (document).
  • Anh ta được yêu cầu làm bản kiểm thảo gửi lên cấp trên. (He was asked to write a self-criticism to submit to his superiors.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tự kiểm thảo (Verb Phrase): To self-criticize; to engage in self-examination and criticism.
  • Phần quan trọng của quá trình là tự kiểm thảo. (The important part of the process is self-criticism.)
• Buổi kiểm thảo (Noun Phrase): A criticism/self-criticism session or meeting.
  • Một buổi kiểm thảo được tổ chức nghiêm túc. (A criticism session was held seriously.)

Synonyms

• Phê bình và tự phê bình (Verb Phrase): To criticize and self-criticize. (This is a very close synonym, often used in similar contexts.)
• Xem xét, đánh giá (Verbs): To consider, to evaluate. (These are broader and less specific to the formal fault-finding context.)

Notes on Different Meanings

• Historical/Noun (obsolete): In feudal times, "kiểm thảo" was also a noun referring to a specific official position (Censor) in the Hanlin Academy, ranked at the seventh degree. This meaning is archaic and not used in modern language.
  • Chức kiểm thảo trong triều đình phong kiến. (The Censor position in the feudal court.)

Related Phrases

• Kiểm điểm (Verb): To review one's own performance, often critically; to sum up and evaluate. This is a closely related term, sometimes used interchangeably in modern contexts, though "kiểm thảo" can imply a more formal or severe process.
  • Cuối năm, chúng tôi phải kiểm điểm công tác. (At year's end, we must review our work.)

1. Criticize, self-criticize
   • Làm bản kiểm thảo
     To write one's self-criticisms (for some mistake committed...)