Definition

1. Verb:
   • To take an oath / to swear an oath: The act of making a solemn, formal promise, often invoking a divine witness or sacred object to guarantee one's sincerity and commitment. It implies a vow or pledge of great importance.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Các tân binh phát thệ trung thành với Tổ quốc. (The new recruits swore an oath of loyalty to the Fatherland.)
  • Trước tòa, nhân chứng phải phát thệ nói sự thật. (Before the court, the witness must take an oath to tell the truth.)
  • Họ phát thệ sẽ bảo vệ bí mật của tổ chức. (They took an oath to protect the organization's secrets.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is formal and is used in official, legal, military, or solemn ceremonial contexts. It carries a stronger connotation of ceremony and gravity than the more general "thề" (to swear).

Variants and Related Words

• Thề (v): to swear, to vow. A more general term for making a promise or declaration, which can be formal or informal.

  • Anh ấy thề sẽ không bao giờ phản bội. (He swore he would never betray.)

• Lời thề (n): an oath, a vow. The spoken or written promise itself.

  • Lời thề trung thành. (The oath of allegiance.)

Synonyms

• Swear: to make a solemn promise.
• Take an oath: to formally pledge.
• Vow: to promise solemnly.

Related Idioms

• Phát thệ đồng sinh cộng tử: To swear an oath to live and die together (a classic idiom denoting an unbreakable bond of brotherhood or loyalty).
  • Họ kết nghĩa anh em và phát thệ đồng sinh cộng tử. (They became sworn brothers and took an oath to share life and death.)