Definition

1. Verb:
   • To sue, to bring a legal action: "Kiện cáo" refers to the act of initiating a lawsuit or legal proceedings against someone, typically to seek justice or compensation for a perceived wrong.
   • To litigate (in a general sense): It describes the overall process of engaging in a legal dispute or court case.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Hai bên đang kiện cáo nhau vì tranh chấp đất đai. (The two parties are suing each other over a land dispute.)
  • Ông ấy quyết định kiện cáo công ty vì vi phạm hợp đồng. (He decided to bring a legal action against the company for breach of contract.)
  • Kiện cáo là việc tốn kém và mất thời gian. (Litigation is costly and time-consuming.)

Advanced Usage

• "vướng vào vòng kiện cáo": to get entangled in litigation.

  • Doanh nghiệp nhỏ dễ bị tổn thương khi vướng vào vòng kiện cáo. (Small businesses are vulnerable when they get entangled in litigation.)

• "kiện cáo lẫn nhau": to sue each other, to engage in mutual litigation.

  • Hai công ty đối thủ đã kiện cáo lẫn nhau ra tòa. (The two rival companies have sued each other in court.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kiện (v): To sue, to file a lawsuit. (Often used interchangeably with "kiện cáo" but can be slightly more specific to the act of filing.)

  • Bà ấy kiện người hàng xóm vì tiếng ồn. (She is suing her neighbor because of the noise.)

• Tố tụng (n): Litigation, legal proceedings. (Refers to the formal process itself.)

  • Quy trình tố tụng dân sự rất phức tạp. (The civil litigation procedure is very complex.)

• Thưa kiện (v): To bring a case to court, to lodge a complaint. (A formal synonym.)

  • Người lao động đã thưa kiện chủ doanh nghiệp. (The worker lodged a complaint against the business owner.)

Synonyms

• Khởi kiện: To institute legal proceedings, to initiate a lawsuit.
• Đệ đơn kiện: To file a lawsuit.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: As a single verb, "kiện cáo" is not typically broken down into phrasal verbs in Vietnamese. The action is expressed through the verb itself combined with objects or complements.) - Đâm đơn kiện cáo: To submit a petition to sue (emphasizes the act of filing). - Anh ta đã đâm đơn kiện cáo ra tòa án. (He has submitted a petition to sue at the court.)

Related Idioms

• Kiện cáo như cơm bữa: To litigate as regularly as daily meals. (Describes someone or a situation involving frequent, habitual lawsuits.)

  • Công ty đó nổi tiếng với việc kiện cáo như cơm bữa. (That company is notorious for litigating as regularly as daily meals.)

• Cá không ăn muối cá ươn, con cãi cha mẹ trăm đường con hư: A fish not salted will spoil, a child who disputes with parents is wrong in all ways. (An old saying sometimes referenced to discourage unnecessary disputes or litigation, especially within families, implying it leads to ruin.)

  • Ông bà ta có câu "cá không ăn muối cá ươn, con cãi cha mẹ trăm đường con hư" để khuyên con cháu tránh kiện cáo trong nhà. (Our ancestors have the saying "a fish not salted will spoil, a child who disputes with parents is wrong in all ways" to advise descendants to avoid litigation within the family.)

1. Sue, bring a legal action.institute a law suit (nói khái quát)