lạy van

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To beg humbly and persistently: To earnestly and submissively plead for a favor, mercy, or forgiveness, often while bowing or showing extreme deference.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Nó lạy van mẹ cho đi chơi. (He begged his mother humbly to let him go out.)
  • Tên tù nhân lạy van quan tòa tha mạng. (The prisoner begged the judge for his life.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "lạy van" is often used in contexts involving a significant power imbalance, where the supplicant is in a much weaker position and uses gestures of deep respect (like bowing) to appeal to someone of higher authority or status.

Variants and Related Words

• Lạy lục (v): to beg and plead incessantly; a near-synonym emphasizing repeated, desperate entreaty.
  • Anh ta lạy lục xin cô ấy tha thứ. (He pleaded incessantly for her forgiveness.)

Synonyms

• To implore: To beg earnestly or desperately.
• To beseech: To ask urgently and fervently.
• To entreat: To ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something.

Related Idioms

• Lạy ông tôi ở bụi này: A humorous or sarcastic exclamation of surprise or fear, literally "I bow to you, my ancestor in this bush!" It is not a direct usage of "lạy van" but shares the root "lạy" (to bow/to worship).
  • Lạy ông tôi ở bụi này! Cái gì thế? (Oh my goodness! What is that?)