lao lý
Definition
- Noun:
- Prison; penal system: Refers to a prison, jail, or the entire system of incarceration and punishment for crimes. It carries a formal and somewhat literary tone, often implying the hardship and suffering associated with imprisonment.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Sau phiên tòa, anh ta bị đưa vào lao lý. (After the trial, he was sent to prison.)
- Cuộc sống trong lao lý rất khắc nghiệt. (Life inside the penal system is very harsh.)
- Hắn đã trải qua mười năm lao lý. (He spent ten years in jail.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in legal, journalistic, or literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation. It can evoke the broader experience of punishment and loss of freedom, not just the physical building.
Variants and Related Words
- Nhà tù (n): Prison, jail. This is the more common and neutral term.
- Trại giam (n): Detention camp, prison camp.
- Ngục tù (n): Dungeon, prison (literary).
Synonyms
- Prison: A building where people are legally held as punishment.
- Jail: A place for the confinement of people accused or convicted of a crime.
- Penitentiary: A prison for serious crimes.
- Incarceration: The state of being confined in prison.
Related Idioms
- Vào lao lý / Ra khỏi lao lý: To enter prison / To be released from prison.
- Sau khi cải tạo tốt, ông ấy đã được ra khỏi lao lý. (After good rehabilitation, he was released from prison.)