trù
Definition
- Verb:
- To bear a grudge and seek petty revenge: Refers to the mean-spirited action of a person in authority using their power to get back at a subordinate for a perceived offense.
- To calculate; to plan; to prepare in advance: To compute or make arrangements for something beforehand, such as expenses or an event.
Usage Examples
Verb (to bear a grudge):
- Ông chủ cũ *trù tôi sau khi tôi thôi việc.* (My old boss held a grudge against me after I quit.)
- Giáo viên không nên *trù học sinh.* (A teacher should not seek petty revenge against a student.)
Verb (to calculate/plan):
- Chúng tôi cần *trù chi phí cho chuyến đi.* (We need to calculate the expenses for the trip.)
- Họ đang *trù một khoản tiền để mua nhà.* (They are preparing a sum of money to buy a house.)
Advanced Usage
- "trù ếm": to curse, to cast a malevolent spell (often superstitious).
- Người ta đồn hắn biết cách trù ếm kẻ thù. (People rumor that he knows how to curse his enemies.)
Variants and Related Words
- Tính toán (v): to calculate, to compute. (A more neutral synonym for the planning sense).
- Báo thù (v): to take revenge, to retaliate. (A stronger, more general term for revenge).
Synonyms
- To hold a grudge: To harbor persistent resentment.
- To scheme against: To make secret plans to harm someone.
- To calculate: To determine mathematically.
- To budget: To plan the allocation of money.
Related Idioms
- Trù dập: to oppress, to persecute (often systematically).
- Anh ta bị sếp trù dập vì dám lên tiếng. (He was persecuted by his boss for daring to speak up.)