thừa lệnh
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To act on someone's orders/command: To carry out an action explicitly because one has received and is obeying an instruction from a person in authority. It emphasizes that the actor is not acting on their own initiative but is following a directive.
- By order of / On the authority of: Used to state that an action is performed under the official instruction of a specific person or office, often seen in formal or written contexts.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Anh ta thừa lệnh giám đốc để đình chỉ dự án. (He acted on the director's orders to suspend the project.)
- Cảnh sát tiến vào, thừa lệnh của tòa án. (The police moved in, by order of the court.)
- Tôi không tự ý làm điều này; tôi chỉ thừa lệnh cấp trên. (I did not do this on my own; I was only following my superior's orders.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is formal and is commonly used in official, military, legal, or corporate contexts to denote a chain of command and delegated authority.
- It can sometimes carry a neutral-to-negative connotation, implying the actor bears less personal responsibility as they were "just following orders."
Variants and Related Words
- Thừa mệnh (v): A more formal/literary synonym with the same meaning, often found in historical or classical contexts.
- Vị tướng thừa mệnh nhà vua xuất quân. (The general, by command of the king, led the army out.)
Synonyms
- To act on instructions: To perform a task based on given directions.
- By order of: A formal prepositional phrase indicating the source of authority.
- Under orders: To be in a position of having to follow specific commands.
Related Idioms
- Thừa hành mệnh lệnh: To execute an order. This phrase focuses more on the process of implementation.
- Binh lính có nhiệm vụ thừa hành mệnh lệnh. (Soldiers have the duty to execute orders.)