ngoại xâm

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Foreign invasion: The act of a foreign military force aggressively entering and attacking a country's territory with the intent to conquer, occupy, or subjugate it. This term strongly implies a large-scale, organized military assault.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Lịch sử Việt Nam là lịch sử của những cuộc đấu tranh chống ngoại xâm. (Vietnamese history is a history of struggles against foreign invasion.)
  • Tinh thần chống ngoại xâm của nhân dân ta rất mạnh mẽ. (Our people's spirit of resisting foreign invasion is very strong.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "ngoại xâm" carries a strong connotation of unjust aggression and is deeply embedded in historical and patriotic discourse. It is not used for minor border skirmishes but for significant, existential threats to national sovereignty.

Variants and Related Words

• Xâm lược (n/v): Invasion; to invade. This is a more general term for invasion, while "ngoại xâm" specifically denotes that the invasion is by a foreign power.

  • cuộc xâm lược của đế quốc (the imperialist invasion)

• Giặc ngoại xâm (n): Foreign invaders. This compound explicitly refers to the invading foreign force itself.

  • đánh đuổi giặc ngoại xâm (to drive out the foreign invaders)

Synonyms

• Foreign aggression: Hostile action by a foreign state.
• Foreign encroachment: Gradual intrusion by a foreign power, though this is often less sudden than "ngoại xâm".

Related Idioms

• Chống ngoại xâm: To resist/oppose foreign invasion. This is a fixed, highly common phrase in historical and political contexts.
  • truyền thống chống ngoại xâm (the tradition of resisting foreign invasion)