xích tay
Definition
Noun:
- Handcuffs; shackles: A restraint device, typically a pair of metal rings connected by a short chain or bar, used to secure a person's wrists together.
- The act of handcuffing: The action of applying handcuffs to someone.
Verb:
- To handcuff: To put handcuffs on someone, typically a prisoner or suspect, to restrain them.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- Cảnh sát dùng xích tay để khống chế tên tội phạm. (The police used handcuffs to subdue the criminal.)
- Chiếc xích tay bằng thép rất chắc chắn. (The steel handcuffs are very sturdy.)
Verb:
- Họ xích tay nghi phạm lại trước khi đưa lên xe. (They handcuffed the suspect before putting him in the vehicle.)
- Tù nhân bị xích tay trong quá trình vận chuyển. (The prisoner was handcuffed during transport.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in legal, law enforcement, and penal contexts. It implies a formal, official restraint, as opposed to simply tying someone's hands.
Variants and Related Words
Còng tay (n): Another common term for handcuffs, often used interchangeably with "xích tay."
- Cảnh sát lấy còng tay ra. (The police took out the handcuffs.)
Khoá tay (n/v): Can refer to handcuffs or the act of locking someone's hands.
- Gông cùm (n): Refers to heavier shackles or stocks used historically for punishment or severe restraint.
Synonyms
- Handcuffs: A device for securing the wrists.
- Shackles: A general term for restraints, often for wrists or ankles.
- Manacles: A synonym for handcuffs or shackles.
Related Idioms
- While "xích tay" itself is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions, the concept appears in phrases about captivity or restriction.
- Bị trói buộc: To be bound/tied up (literally or figuratively).
- Mất tự do: To lose one's freedom.