Definition

1. Verb:
   • To encroach upon / to infringe upon: To gradually take over or intrude into a space, right, or property that belongs to another.
   • To embezzle / to misappropriate (money): To take money, especially funds one is entrusted with, for one's own use in a gradual or deceitful manner.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Hàng xóm mới xây tường lẹm sang đất nhà tôi. (The new neighbor built a wall encroaching on my land.)
  • Người quản lý bị cáo buộc lẹm tiền của công ty. (The manager was accused of embezzling company money.)
  • Anh ta lẹm cả tiền lương của vợ. (He even misappropriated his wife's salary.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb "lẹm" often implies a slow, stealthy, or incremental action of taking something that is not rightfully one's own.

Variants and Related Words

• Lấn lẹm (v): A reinforced form meaning to encroach or usurp persistently.
  • Công ty đó lấn lẹm thị phần của các đối thủ. (That company persistently encroached on its competitors' market share.)

Synonyms

• Encroach: To intrude on someone's territory or rights.
• Embezzle: To steal money placed in one's trust.
• Usurp: To take a position or power illegally or by force.

Related Idioms

• Lẹm vốn lẹm lời: To embezzle both the capital and the profit; to misappropriate funds completely.
  • Kẻ phản bội lẹm vốn lẹm lời rồi bỏ trốn. (The traitor embezzled all the capital and profits and then fled.)