trảm

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The Vietnamese word "trảm" is a verb that means "to behead." It refers specifically to the act of cutting off someone's head, often in a historical or literary context. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand it better.

Basic Usage:

• Meaning: To behead; to cut off the head of a person or an animal.
• Example: In historical texts, you might read "Vị vua đã ra lệnh trảm kẻ phản bội," which translates to "The king ordered the beheading of the traitor."

Advanced Usage:

In modern Vietnamese, "trảm" is not commonly used in everyday conversation because it is quite severe and often associated with historical events or literature. However, it may appear in discussions of justice, punishment, or in stories about ancient times.

Word Variants:

• Trảm quyết: This phrase means "to execute" or "to carry out a death sentence," generally implying a more formal or legal context.
• Trảm gỗ: In informal contexts, this can refer to cutting wood, but it is a play on words, as "trảm" typically has a more severe connotation.

Different Meanings:

While "trảm" primarily means "to behead," it can also be used metaphorically in literature to describe the act of removing someone from power or eliminating a threat, though this is less common.

Synonyms:

• Chém: This is another verb that means "to chop" or "to cut," which can refer to cutting off heads but is broader and can refer to any chopping action.
• Thảm sát: This means "massacre," which implies killing many people and is a more general term for violent acts.

Summary:

In summary, "trảm" is a strong and specific term in Vietnamese that refers to the act of beheading. While it is not commonly used in everyday language today, it is important in historical and literary contexts.

Academic

verb

1. to behead