Definition

1. Verb:
   • To deceive: To cause someone to believe something that is not true, typically for personal gain or to avoid a negative outcome.
   • To trick: To use cunning or deceitful methods to manipulate someone into acting in a certain way or believing a falsehood.
   • To cheat: To act dishonestly or unfairly to gain an advantage, often in a relationship or agreement.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ta lừa dối bạn bè để kiếm tiền. (He deceived his friends to make money.)
  • Đừng lừa dối chính mình về sự thật. (Don't deceive yourself about the truth.)
  • Cô ấy cảm thấy bị tổn thương vì bị lừa dối. (She felt hurt because she was cheated.)

Advanced Usage

• "lừa dối lòng nhau": to deceive each other's hearts (often used in romantic contexts to describe mutual dishonesty in a relationship).
  • Mối quan hệ đó chỉ toàn là lừa dối lòng nhau. (That relationship was full of deceiving each other's hearts.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lừa đảo (v): to swindle, to defraud (typically for financial gain).

  • Bọn tội phạm lừa đảo người già qua điện thoại. (The criminals swindled the elderly over the phone.)

• Lừa gạt (v): to dupe, to hoodwink (similar to "lừa dối" but can imply a simpler or more blatant trick).

  • Hắn lừa gạt cô bằng những lời hứa hão huyền. (He duped her with empty promises.)

Synonyms

• Deceive: To make someone believe something false.
• Trick: To deceive by cunning or strategy.
• Mislead: To cause someone to have a wrong idea or impression.
• Betray: To be disloyal, often involving deception.

Related Idioms

• Lừa dối như Cuội: To lie/deceive like Cuội (based on a folk tale character known for lying; means to be a habitual or pathological liar).

  • Anh bạn đó nói dối, lừa dối như Cuội vậy. (That friend lies and deceives like Cuội.)

• Lừa dối trắng trợn: to deceive brazenly/blatantly.

  • Đó là một hành động lừa dối trắng trợn không thể chấp nhận. (That was a blatantly deceptive act that is unacceptable.)

1. Trick onto obedience, trick into compliance