Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):
   • To eradicate the poison/to completely neutralize the venom: The literal meaning refers to the medical or traditional treatment of removing or counteracting venom from a bite or sting, ensuring it is completely eliminated from the body.
   • To eradicate the root of evil/to completely eliminate a pernicious influence: The figurative and more common meaning is to thoroughly eliminate a harmful source, a bad habit, a corrupt system, or a dangerous element from society or a situation.

Usage Examples

• Literal (Medical/Traditional):
  • Thầy lang dùng lá thuốc này để tuyệt nọc rắn. (The herbalist uses this leaf to eradicate the snake's venom.)
• Figurative (Eliminating Harm):
  • Chính quyền quyết tâm tuyệt nọc tệ nạn tham nhũng. (The government is determined to eradicate the poison of corruption.)
  • Phải tuyệt nọc những tư tưởng xấu từ gốc. (We must eradicate the poison of bad ideologies from the root.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in formal, literary, or journalistic contexts to emphasize a decisive, thorough, and radical removal of a deeply embedded problem. It implies action that is not superficial but aims at the complete destruction of the harmful agent's source or influence.

Variants and Related Words

• Trừ nọc (v): To remove poison/venom. This is a less intense synonym, often used in similar contexts but with a slightly weaker connotation of completeness than "tuyệt nọc."
• Giải độc (v): To detoxify, to counteract poison. This focuses more on the treatment process rather than the complete eradication.

Synonyms

• Eradicate: To destroy completely.
• Extirpate: To root out and destroy completely.
• Neutralize: To render something harmless or ineffective.
• Uproot: To remove or destroy completely.

Related Idioms

• Tuyệt gốc trừ tận nọc: To eliminate from the root and destroy the poison completely. This is an extended phrase reinforcing the thoroughness implied by "tuyệt nọc."
  • Cuộc cải cách nhằm tuyệt gốc trừ tận nọc của bộ máy cũ. (The reform aims to eliminate from the root and completely destroy the poison of the old apparatus.)