Definition

1. Verb:
   • To pass away (of a Buddhist monk or nun): Used specifically to denote the death of a Buddhist monastic, implying a peaceful departure or attainment of nirvana.
   • To confiscate; to seize: A shortened, formal term for "tịch thu," meaning to officially take possession of property, typically by authority of the law.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to pass away):
  • Sư cụ đã tịch. (The venerable monk has passed away.)
• Verb (to confiscate):
  • Tài sản của hắn bị tịch. (His assets were confiscated.)
  • Cảnh sát tịch số hàng lậu. (The police confiscated the smuggled goods.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "tịch" is formal and is not used for the death of laypeople. For general death, words like "mất," "qua đời," or "chết" are used.
• In legal or official contexts, "tịch" is often part of the compound "tịch thu" (to confiscate). Using "tịch" alone retains this formal, legal nuance.

Variants and Related Words

• Tịch thu (v): To confiscate, to seize. This is the full, more common form.
  • Tòa án ra lệnh tịch thu tài sản. (The court ordered the confiscation of property.)
• Tịch biên (v): To distrain; to seize and inventory (assets).
• Viên tịch (v): A more specific, honorific term for the passing of a high-ranking Buddhist monk or nun, indicating a perfect, complete passing into nirvana.

Synonyms

• To pass away: Viên tịch, qua đời (for monastics).
• To confiscate: Tịch thu, tước đoạt (to strip of), sung công (to nationalize).

Related Idioms

• "Tịch" itself does not commonly appear in idioms. Its meaning is primarily direct. However, the action it describes is central to formal and legal contexts.