lận

Một người bán hàng lận tiền thối lại cho khách.

Definition

1. Verb:

   • To cheat, to swindle, to deceive: The primary meaning of "lận" is to act dishonestly in order to gain an advantage, especially in games or financial matters. It implies trickery or fraud.
   • To be cheated, to be duped: In a passive sense, it describes the state of having been deceived or tricked by someone.

2. Particle (Final intensifying particle):

   • An untranslatable word placed at the end of a sentence or phrase to add emphasis, often indicating that something is more significant, earlier, or later than might be assumed. It is similar to adding "even" or "as far back as" for temporal emphasis.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Hắn chơi bài có lận. (He cheats at cards.)
  • Tôi bị lận mất một khoản tiền. (I was swindled out of a sum of money.)

• Particle:

  • Anh ấy đã đi từ hôm kia lận. (He left as far back as the day before yesterday.)
  • Cô ấy biết chuyện đó từ lâu lận. (She has known about that for a long time, you know.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb "lận" is considered somewhat literary or formal in modern usage. In everyday speech, words like "lừa" (to deceive) or "gian lận" (to cheat) are more common for the verbal meaning.
• The particle "lận" is used colloquially to strengthen a statement, particularly concerning time or quantity, nudging the listener to acknowledge an unexpected extent.

Variants and Related Words

• Gian lận (v/n): Fraud, cheating, corruption. This compound is the most common modern term for serious cheating or fraud.

  • Hành vi gian lận trong thi cử bị nghiêm cấm. (Cheating on exams is strictly prohibited.)

• Lừa lận (v): To deceive, to swindle (a synonym pairing).

  • Kẻ đó chuyên lừa lận người già. (That person specializes in swindling the elderly.)

Synonyms

• Cheat: To act dishonestly to gain an advantage.
• Swindle: To use deception to deprive someone of money or possessions.
• Deceive: To cause someone to believe something that is not true.

Related Idioms

• Cờ gian bạc lận: Refers to dishonest gambling practices involving cheating at cards and dice. It encapsulates the core meaning of deceit for gain.

  • Sòng bạc đó nổi tiếng với trò cờ gian bạc lận. (That casino is infamous for rigged games and cheating.)

• Mắc lận: To be tricked, to fall for a swindle.

  • Vì cả tin, ông ấy đã mắc lận. (Because he was gullible, he got swindled.)