Definition

1. Verb (historical/archaic):
   • To exact or levy excessive/improper taxes or contributions: Refers to the corrupt practice, typically by local officials or village bullies, of forcing people, especially peasants, to pay more taxes or fees than legally required.
   • To extort under the guise of taxation: To illegally demand extra payments by abusing the authority of tax collection.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Bọn cường hào lạm bổ thuế của dân. (The village bullies exacted excessive taxes from the people.)
  • Chính sách mới nhằm ngăn chặn nạn lạm bổ. (The new policy aims to prevent the practice of excessive tax levies.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "lạm bổ" is primarily used in historical or socio-political contexts describing feudal or pre-modern administrative corruption. It is now considered an archaic term but may appear in discussions of historical injustice or analogies to modern corruption.

Variants and Related Words

• Bóc lột (v): to exploit. A more general and modern term for exploitation.
• Tham nhũng (n): corruption. The broader modern concept encompassing practices like .
• Cường hào (n): local tyrant/village bully. Often the subject performing the action of .

Synonyms

• To overcharge (on taxes): To demand an illegally high amount.
• To extort: To obtain something through force or threats.
• To exact excessively: To demand and collect an unfair, inflated sum.

Related Idioms

• While "lạm bổ" itself is not commonly part of a fixed idiom, it relates to the historical phrase "lạm thu lạm bổ", meaning the pervasive and corrupt practice of imposing excessive taxes and levies.