trách cứ
Definition
- Verb:
- To blame / to hold accountable: To assign fault or responsibility to someone for a perceived mistake or wrongdoing. It implies a direct accusation that someone is at fault.
- To reproach / to censure: To express disapproval or criticism towards someone for their actions or failures.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Đừng trách cứ anh ấy, anh ấy đã cố gắng hết sức. (Don't blame him; he tried his best.)
- Cô ấy trách cứ tôi vì đã đến muộn. (She reproached me for being late.)
- Họ thường trách cứ nhau thay vì hợp tác để giải quyết vấn đề. (They often blame each other instead of cooperating to solve the problem.)
Advanced Usage
- The word often carries a tone of personal accusation and is used in contexts where fault-finding is explicit. It is stronger than simply pointing out an error ("chỉ ra lỗi") and involves holding the person morally or practically responsible.
Variants and Related Words
- Trách (v): to blame, to reproach. A more general and common term for blaming.
- Tôi không trách bạn. (I don't blame you.)
- Trách móc (v): to blame and complain, often with a sense of nagging or resentment.
- Cô ấy trách móc chồng suốt ngày. (She nags and blames her husband all day.)
- Khiển trách (v): to reprimand, to admonish (often used in formal or disciplinary contexts).
- Anh ta bị khiển trách vì hành vi thiếu chuyên nghiệp. (He was reprimanded for unprofessional behavior.)
Synonyms
- Blame: to assign responsibility for a fault or wrong.
- Censure: to express severe disapproval.
- Reproach: to address someone in a way that expresses disapproval or disappointment.
- Hold accountable: to consider someone responsible.
Related Idioms
- While "trách cứ" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, the concept is central to phrases like:
- Đổ lỗi: to shift blame.
- Đừng đổ lỗi cho người khác. (Don't shift blame onto others.)