Definition

1. Noun:
   • Intrigue; Machination: A secret and often complex plan or scheme, typically to achieve a selfish, cunning, or illicit goal.
   • Aim; Design: An ambitious objective or end goal that one schemes to attain, often with a negative connotation of underhandedness.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Hắn ta có những mưu đồ đen tối. (He has dark intrigues.)
  • Mưu đồ chiếm đoạt tài sản của họ đã bị phát hiện. (Their machination to seize property was discovered.)
  • Chính phủ làm thất bại mưu đồ lật đổ. (The government foiled the plot to overthrow.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "mưu đồ" is almost always used in a negative context, implying secrecy, deception, and unethical ambition. It is more severe than a simple plan ("kế hoạch").

Variants and Related Words

• Mưu mô (n): A cunning scheme or trick.
  • Tên tội phạm đầy mưu mô. (The criminal is full of cunning schemes.)
• Âm mưu (n): Conspiracy, plot. Often used for more serious, collective secret plans.
  • Âm mưu ám sát. (An assassination plot.)

Synonyms

• Plot: A secret plan made for a specific purpose, often to harm someone.
• Scheme: A large-scale, systematic plan, often dishonest.
• Design: A purposeful plan, often with an ulterior motive.

Related Idioms

• Mưu đồ bá chủ: Hegemonic design; a scheme for domination.
  • Các nước láng giềng lo ngại về mưu đồ bá chủ của nước đó. (Neighboring countries are worried about that country's hegemonic designs.)

1. Intrigue; machination
2. Try to obtain by intrigue