Definition

1. Verb:
   • To hang (oneself): The primary meaning of "thắt cổ" is to kill oneself by tightening a ligature around the neck, typically a rope or noose, until suffocation occurs. It implies a deliberate act of suicide by this method.
   • To garrote / to strangle: In a broader or more historical context, "thắt cổ" can refer to the act of killing someone else by constricting their neck with a cord or similar device.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Người ta phát hiện anh ta đã thắt cổ trong phòng. (They found he had hanged himself in the room.)
  • Tên sát nhân dùng dây thừng để thắt cổ nạn nhân. (The murderer used a rope to garrote the victim.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is almost exclusively used in the context of causing death. It is a stark and direct term.
• "tự thắt cổ": This compound explicitly means "to hang oneself," emphasizing the self-inflicted nature of the act.
  • Ông ấy bị trầm cảm và đã tự thắt cổ. (He was depressed and hanged himself.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thắt cổ chết (v): to die by hanging/strangulation.
  • Nạn nhân thắt cổ chết trên cây. (The victim died by hanging from a tree.)
• Treo cổ (v): This is a more common synonym for "to hang (oneself)," often used interchangeably with "thắt cổ" in the context of suicide.
  • Hắn treo cổ tự tử. (He hanged himself.)

Synonyms

• To hang (oneself): To suspend by the neck until dead.
• To garrote: To kill by strangulation, especially with a wire or cord.
• To strangle: To kill by external compression of the throat.

Related Idioms

• Thắt cổ bồng tôi: A historical idiom referring to a form of execution by hanging. It is not used in modern everyday language.
• Thắt lưng buộc bụng: This is a completely different, common idiom meaning "to tighten one's belt" or to live frugally. It should not be confused with "thắt cổ."

verb

1. to hang, to garrotte