Definition

1. Noun:
   • A fine: A monetary penalty imposed for breaking a rule, law, or traditional village regulation.
   • Misfortune / Calamity: An unexpected disaster, trouble, or piece of bad luck that befalls someone.
   • Blame / Fault: Responsibility or accusation for a wrongdoing or mistake.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ta phải nộp vạ vì vi phạm luật lệ làng. (He had to pay a fine for violating the village rules.)
  • Gia đình ấy gặp phải vạ không đáng có. (That family encountered an undeserved misfortune.)
  • Đừng có nói bậy kẻo mang vạ vào thân. (Don't talk nonsense, or you'll bring blame upon yourself.)

Advanced Usage

• "vạ lây": to suffer collateral misfortune; to be affected by trouble originating from someone else.

  • Nó bị vạ lây chỉ vì ngồi cạnh thằng phá làng. (He suffered collateral misfortune just for sitting next to the troublemaker.)

• "phạt vạ": to impose a fine (as a punishment).

  • Hội đồng kỷ luật quyết định phạt vạ người vi phạm. (The disciplinary council decided to fine the violator.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vạ miệng / Vạ mồm (n): Trouble caused by one's own careless or inappropriate speech.
  • Cô ấy bị vạ miệng vì buôn chuyện thất thiệt. (She got into trouble because of spreading unfounded gossip.)

Synonyms

• Fine: a monetary penalty.
• Misfortune: bad luck.
• Calamity: a disaster.
• Blame: responsibility for a fault.

Related Idioms

• Tai bay vạ gió: Misfortune that comes as unexpectedly as the wind; troubles that appear out of nowhere.

  • Cuộc sống đang yên ổn, bỗng dưng tai bay vạ gió. (Life was peaceful, then suddenly trouble came out of nowhere.)

• Cháy thành vạ lây: When a big fire spreads to neighboring houses; meaning the innocent suffer for the faults of others.

  • Công ty phá sản, nhân viên mất việc đúng là cháy thành vạ lây. (The company went bankrupt, and the employees lost their jobs—truly a case of the innocent suffering.)

noun

1. fine