làm tội
Definitions
- Transitive Verb:
- To torture, to torment (physically): To inflict severe physical suffering or punishment upon someone, often as a form of execution or extreme penalty.
- To cause trouble/difficulty for, to be a burden to: To cause someone hardship, distress, or inconvenience through one's actions or behavior, often implying persistent annoyance.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Kẻ phản bội bị làm tội một cách dã man. (The traitor was tortured barbarically.)
- Những cơn đau đầu kinh niên làm tội anh ấy suốt nhiều năm. (The chronic headaches tormented him for many years.)
- Đứa trẻ nghịch ngợm suốt ngày làm tội cha mẹ. (The mischievous child causes his parents trouble all day.)
- Đừng làm tội bản thân với những suy nghĩ tiêu cực nữa. (Don't torment yourself with negative thoughts anymore.)
Advanced Usage
- "làm tội làm tình": This is a common reduplicative phrase (từ láy) that intensifies the meaning, emphasizing causing persistent trouble, hardship, or torment.
- Công việc này làm tội làm tình tôi cả tuần nay. (This job has been a real torment to me all week.)
Variants and Related Words
- Hành tội (verb): To torture, to mistreat. A close synonym, often used in similar contexts for physical torment.
- Hành hạ (verb): To maltreat, to torment. Can be used for both physical and mental suffering.
- Làm khổ (verb): To make (someone) suffer. A more general term for causing suffering.
- Gây phiền toái (verb phrase): To cause inconvenience, to bother. Less severe than "làm tội".
Synonyms
- Tra tấn: To torture (usually for interrogation).
- Hành hạ: To maltreat, to torment.
- Quấy rầy: To pester, to bother (less severe, more about annoyance).
Related Idioms
- "Làm tội làm tình": As mentioned above, this idiomatic repetition is used for emphasis on causing great trouble or torment.
- Cái máy tính hỏng làm tội làm tình tôi sáng nay. (The broken computer was a real pain for me this morning.)
Note: The meaning has evolved. While the primary historical/literal meaning involves physical torture or execution (as seen in the French translation "supplicier"), the more common contemporary usage is the second meaning: to cause trouble, hardship, or mental distress to someone.