Definition

Adjective (archaic): - At large, fugitive, on the run: Refers to a person who is fleeing or hiding to avoid capture, typically because they are considered guilty of a crime or are wanted by authorities. It describes a state of being a fugitive.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tên tội phạm nguy hiểm vẫn còn tại đào. (The dangerous criminal is still at large.)
  • Sau vụ án, nghi phạm chính đã tại đào suốt ba tháng. (After the case, the main suspect was a fugitive for three months.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is considered archaic (cũ) in modern Vietnamese. It is primarily found in historical, legal, or literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation.
• It is used to describe a status or condition, not an action. The action of fleeing would be described by verbs like "trốn chạy" (to flee) or "bỏ trốn" (to escape).

Variants and Related Words

• Đào tẩu (verb): To flee, to escape, to desert. This is a more common verb for the act of running away.
  • Hắn đã đào tẩu khỏi hiện trường. (He fled from the scene.)
• Kẻ đào tẩu / Kẻ chạy trốn (noun): A fugitive, a runaway.
• Lẩn trốn (verb): To hide, to go into hiding.

Synonyms

• Đang bỏ trốn: To be escaping.
• Đang lẩn tránh: To be evading, to be in hiding.
• Phạm nhân đang chạy trốn: A convict on the run.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The word "tại" in this compound is an archaic word meaning "to be at" or "in a state of." It is not the modern, common preposition "tại" meaning "at" (a location) or "because of."
• The word "đào" in this compound means "to flee" or "escape." It is not related to the modern word "đào" meaning "peach" (the fruit/tree) or "to dig."

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Truy nã tại đào: To hunt for a fugitive (an official legal phrase).
  • Cảnh sát đang truy nã tại đào nghi phạm. (The police are hunting for the fugitive suspect.)

adj

1. (cũ) at large