Definition

1. Verb:
   • To harass, to pester, to vex: To repeatedly trouble or bother someone, especially in an official or oppressive manner, often to cause harm or to extort something. This term strongly implies abuse of power or authority.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cán bộ tham nhũng đó thường xuyên nhũng nhiễu người dân. (That corrupt official frequently harasses the people.)
  • Không được nhũng nhiễu các doanh nghiệp bằng các thủ tục hành chính. (Do not pester businesses with administrative procedures.)
  • Bọn địa chủ cường hào ngày xưa hay nhũng nhiễu nông dân. (The despotic landlords in the old days often harassed the peasants.)

Advanced Usage

• This verb is typically used in formal or serious contexts to describe oppressive actions by individuals in positions of power (e.g., officials, authorities, bullies). It carries a strong negative connotation of injustice and abuse.
• It often describes systemic or repeated behavior rather than a single incident.

Variants and Related Words

• Nhũng lạm (verb/noun): To embezzle and abuse power; corruption and abuse of authority. This is a more formal compound term often used in legal or administrative contexts.
• Quấy nhiễu (verb): To disturb, to harass. This is a more general term and can be used in both serious and milder contexts (e.g., - to disturb a neighbor), not necessarily involving a power imbalance.
• Hành hạ (verb): To torment, to torture. This implies causing physical or severe mental suffering.

Synonyms

• Quấy rối: To harass, to disturb.
• Hạch sách: To hassle, to make unreasonable demands (often for money or favors).
• Bức hiếp: To oppress, to coerce.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• : To harass the populace.
• : To harass the people (a common formal phrase).

Related Idioms

• While "nhũng nhiễu" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, the concept is central to phrases describing corruption, such as:
  • Tham ô, nhũng nhiễu: To embezzle and harass (a common pairing describing corrupt official conduct).

1. Harass, pester