lăng trì

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Lingchi: A form of execution used in historical China and some other East Asian societies, involving the slow and methodical removal of body parts, leading to a prolonged death. This term is often translated as "slow slicing" or "death by a thousand cuts."
   • The act of lingchi: The process or instance of carrying out this punishment.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • "Lăng trì" là một hình phạt tàn khốc trong lịch sử. ("Lingchi" was a cruel punishment in history.)
  • Tội phản quốc thời xưa có thể bị kết án lăng trì. (The crime of treason in ancient times could be sentenced to lingchi.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is almost exclusively used in historical, legal, or literary contexts to describe a specific ancient punishment. It is not used in modern legal or casual contexts.
• It can be used metaphorically in literature or speech to describe an extremely slow, painful, and drawn-out process, though this is a figurative extension.
  • Dự án này tiến triển chậm như kiểu lăng trì vậy. (This project is progressing slowly, like a form of lingchi.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tùng xẻo: A synonym for "lăng trì," also meaning the punishment of slow slicing.
• Xử tử: (Verb) To execute. A general term for execution.
• Hình phạt: (Noun) Punishment, penalty.

Synonyms

• Slow slicing: The direct English translation.
• Death by a thousand cuts: The common English idiom for this punishment.

Related Idioms

• While "lăng trì" itself is the core term, it can be part of descriptive phrases rather than fixed idioms.
  • Án lăng trì: A sentence of lingchi.
  • Chịu hình phạt lăng trì: To suffer the punishment of lingchi.