Definition

1. Verb:
   • To abolish, to annul, to eliminate: To officially end or remove something, such as a law, regulation, right, or piece of evidence, so that it no longer exists or has effect.
   • To liquidate, to eliminate (a person): To secretly kill or assassinate someone, often to remove a witness, opponent, or threat.
   • To abandon, to renounce: To completely give up or cease an activity, struggle, or principle.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Chính phủ quyết định thủ tiêu sắc thuế cũ. (The government decided to abolish the old tax.)
  • Mọi tang vật phải được thủ tiêu theo lệnh của tòa. (All evidence must be destroyed/eliminated by court order.)
  • Nhân chứng quan trọng đã bị thủ tiêu. (The key witness was liquidated.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often carries a formal, legal, or severe connotation. When referring to people, it implies a deliberate, secretive, and politically or criminally motivated act of removal.
• "thủ tiêu đấu tranh giai cấp": to renounce class struggle.
  • Bị cáo bị buộc tội thủ tiêu đấu tranh giai cấp. (The defendant was accused of renouncing class struggle.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hủy bỏ (v): To cancel, to annul (less severe or secretive than "thủ tiêu").
  • Hủy bỏ một cuộc hẹn. (To cancel an appointment.)
• Xóa bỏ (v): To erase, to obliterate.
  • Xóa bỏ khoảng cách. (To erase the gap.)
• Ám sát (v): To assassinate (specifically for killing a prominent person).
  • Âm mưu ám sát tổng thống. (A plot to assassinate the president.)

Synonyms

• Abolish: To formally put an end to a system or practice.
• Liquidate: To eliminate, especially by killing.
• Annul: To declare invalid.
• Eliminate: To completely remove or get rid of.

Related Idioms

• Thủ tiêu đầu mối: To eliminate the source/lead (often used in investigative or criminal contexts).
  • Chúng tìm cách thủ tiêu đầu mối duy nhất. (They tried to eliminate the only lead.)

verb

1. to abolish, to annul