mất trộm
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To be stolen from: To have one's property or belongings taken by a thief or thieves without permission or knowledge. It describes the state or event of becoming a victim of theft.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Cửa hàng của họ bị mất trộm đêm qua. (Their shop was stolen from last night.)
- Tôi lo lắng về việc xe máy có thể bị mất trộm. (I am worried that the motorbike might be stolen.)
- Họ đã mất trộm một số đồ trang sức giá trị. (They had some valuable jewelry stolen.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used with the passive marker "bị" (to suffer an undesirable action) to emphasize being a victim, as in "bị mất trộm."
- It can function similarly to the passive voice of the verb "ăn trộm" (to steal). For example, "Xe tôi bị mất trộm" is equivalent to "Xe tôi bị ăn trộm" (My vehicle was stolen).
Variants and Related Words
- Mất cắp (verb phrase): A more colloquial synonym for "mất trộm," meaning to be stolen from.
- Anh ấy mất cắp ví trên xe buýt. (He had his wallet stolen on the bus.)
- Ăn trộm (verb): to steal.
- Kẻ đó đã ăn trộm tiền của ông lão. (That person stole the old man's money.)
- Trộm (noun): thief, burglar; (verb): to steal.
- Có trộm đột nhập vào nhà. (A thief broke into the house.)
Synonyms
- To be burglarized: Specifically for theft from a building.
- To be robbed: Often implies a confrontation, but can be used generally for theft.
- To have something stolen: The direct English equivalent phrasing.
Related Idioms
- Mất trộm mới lo chạy mất gà: Equivalent to "shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted." It means taking preventive action only after a loss has occurred.
- Lắp camera sau khi bị mất trộm thì đúng là mất trộm mới lo chạy mất gà. (Installing a camera after being stolen from is exactly like locking the door after the horse has bolted.)