Definition

1. Verb:
   • To reproach, to blame: To express disapproval or disappointment towards someone for their actions or failures, often implying they should have acted differently.
   • To hold accountable, to find fault with: To assign responsibility for a mistake or shortcoming to someone.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy trách tôi đến muộn. (He blamed me for being late.)
  • Cô ấy không nên trách bản thân về sự cố đó. (She shouldn't reproach herself for that incident.)
  • Tôi chỉ muốn trách anh vì đã không nói sự thật. (I just want to reproach you for not telling the truth.)

Advanced Usage

• "trách ai được" / "trách sao được": An expression meaning "who can blame (them)?" or "it's no wonder that...", used to indicate that a negative outcome was predictable or understandable given the circumstances.
  • Anh ấy không học bài, trách sao được anh ấy thi trượt. (He didn't study, it's no wonder he failed the exam.)
• "trách móc": A compound verb with a stronger, more resentful nuance of blaming or reproaching.
  • Đừng trách móc lẫn nhau nữa. (Stop blaming and reproaching each other.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trách nhiệm (n): Responsibility, duty.
  • Mọi người đều có trách nhiệm bảo vệ môi trường. (Everyone has the responsibility to protect the environment.)
• Trách cứ (v): To censure, to reprimand (a more formal or severe term for blaming).
  • Giám đốc trách cứ nhân viên vì sự thiếu sót. (The director censured the employee for the oversight.)
• Trách nhiệm học tập: Academic responsibility.
• Miễn trách nhiệm: To disclaim responsibility.

Synonyms

• Bắt lỗi: To find fault.
• Khiển trách: To reprimand, to admonish (more formal, often used in official contexts).
• Quở trách: To scold, to rebuke.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Trách ai (về việc gì): To blame someone (for something). This is the core grammatical structure.
  • Bố mẹ trách tôi về điểm số thấp. (My parents blamed me for the low grades.)

Related Idioms

• Trách người trước, trách ta sau: Literally "blame others first, blame yourself later"; similar to "look at home first" or "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." It advises self-reflection before blaming others.
• Có trách nhiệm thì phải trách: An idiom meaning "if there is responsibility, then blame must be assigned," emphasizing accountability.

verb

1. to reproach for, to blame