trọng tội
Definition
- Noun:
- A serious crime / a grave offense: A very severe crime that is considered particularly heinous or harmful to society, often carrying the most severe legal penalties.
- A capital crime / a felony: In legal contexts, it can refer to a major crime, such as murder or treason, which is punishable by severe measures including long-term imprisonment or death.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Giết người được coi là một trọng tội. (Murder is considered a serious crime.)
- Hắn phạm phải trọng tội phản quốc. (He committed the grave crime of treason.)
- Luật pháp có những hình phạt nghiêm khắc cho các trọng tội. (The law has severe punishments for felonies.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in formal, legal, or moral discourse to distinguish the most severe category of crimes from lesser offenses ("khinh tội" or misdemeanors).
- It can be used in religious contexts to refer to mortal sins.
Variants and Related Words
- Tội ác (n): crime, evil act. (Often used for atrocious or wicked crimes.)
- Trọng tội nhân (n): a person who has committed a serious crime; a felon.
- Khinh tội (n): a minor offense; a misdemeanor. (This is the conceptual opposite.)
Synonyms
- Felony: A serious crime, typically one punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death.
- Capital crime: A crime punishable by death.
- Grave offense: A very serious wrong or transgression.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Phạm trọng tội: to commit a serious crime.
- Kẻ đó đã phạm trọng tội không thể tha thứ. (That person committed an unforgivable serious crime.)