Definition

1. Noun:
   • Evildoer, malefactor: "Kẻ gian" refers to a person who commits dishonest, harmful, or illegal acts, such as theft, burglary, or espionage. It is a general term for a wrongdoer or villain.
   • Specifically, a thief or burglar: Often used to denote someone who steals.
   • Specifically, a spy or traitor: Can also refer to someone who conducts espionage or betrays others.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Đề phòng kẻ gian. (Guard against evildoers.)
  • Khu phố này thường có kẻ gian đột nhập. (This neighborhood often has burglars breaking in.)
  • Hắn bị nghi là kẻ gian làm việc cho đối phương. (He is suspected of being a spy working for the opposing side.)

Advanced Usage

• "Kẻ gian manh" / "Kẻ gian xảo": A cunning, crafty, or deceitful person.
  • Đừng tin hắn, hắn là kẻ gian manh. (Don't trust him; he is a deceitful person.)
• "Kẻ gian phi": An outlaw or bandit (a more archaic or literary term).
  • Trên núi ngày xưa có nhiều kẻ gian phi. (In the old days, there were many outlaws in the mountains.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gian (adj/n): Dishonest, deceitful; can act as a root for many compounds.
• Kẻ trộm (n): Thief, burglar (more specific than "kẻ gian").
• Kẻ cắp (n): Thief, pickpocket.
• Gian tế (n): Spy, secret agent.
• Kẻ xấu (n): Bad person, evildoer (a more general synonym).

Synonyms

• Kẻ xấu: Bad person.
• Kẻ ác: Evil person, villain.
• Phạm nhân: Offender, criminal (more formal/legal).
• Tội phạm: Criminal (general term).

Related Phrases

• Đề phòng kẻ gian: To guard against/take precautions against evildoers (a very common collocation).
• Mắt kẻ gian: The eye of a thief/villain (implying a suspicious or malicious gaze).
  • Anh ta nhìn với ánh mắt của kẻ gian. (He looked with the eye of a villain.)

Related Idioms

• "Kẻ gian không gặp người ngay": Dishonest people avoid honest ones (similar to "birds of a feather flock together" but focusing on avoidance between opposites).
• "Kẻ gian thường lo trước": A guilty conscience needs no accuser (literally: The evildoer often worries beforehand).

1. Evidoer (a thief, a burglar, a spy, etc...)
   • Đề phòng kẻ gian
     To guard against evildoers