Definition

1. Verb:
   • To surrender oneself (to the authorities): The act of voluntarily giving oneself up to the police or other legal authorities, often to confess to a crime or to face legal consequences.
   • To turn oneself in: This term specifically implies a conscious decision to submit to the authorities, typically after having evaded them.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Sau nhiều ngày trốn chạy, tên tội phạm cuối cùng đã quyết định đầu thú. (After many days on the run, the criminal finally decided to give himself up.)
  • Anh ta khuyên người bạn của mình nên đầu thú để được hưởng án khoan hồng. (He advised his friend to turn himself in to receive leniency.)

Advanced Usage

• Legal and Formal Context: The term "đầu thú" is often used in legal, journalistic, or formal contexts to describe the act of surrendering to law enforcement. It carries a connotation of admitting guilt or responsibility.
  • Việc đầu thú có thể được coi là một tình tiết giảm nhẹ trong xét xử. (Surrendering oneself can be considered a mitigating circumstance during trial.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tự thú (Verb): To confess; to admit one's guilt. While "tự thú" focuses on the confession, "đầu thú" emphasizes the physical act of surrendering to authorities. They are often used in similar contexts.
  • Hắn không chỉ đầu thú mà còn tự thú về tất cả các tội danh. (He not only turned himself in but also confessed to all the charges.)

Synonyms

• Nộp mình: To submit oneself (to the authorities). This is a close synonym, though slightly less common in modern legal terminology.
• Ra trình diện: To present oneself (often to an authority). This phrase can be used in a broader range of contexts, not exclusively criminal.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Đầu thú trước pháp luật: To surrender oneself before the law. This is a common collocation that reinforces the legal aspect of the action.
  • Hành động đầu thú trước pháp luật là đúng đắn. (The act of surrendering oneself before the law is the right thing to do.)

Related Idioms

• Đầu thú để chuộc lỗi: To turn oneself in to atone for one's mistakes. This idiom highlights the aspect of seeking redemption through the act of surrender.
  • Anh ấy tin rằng đầu thú để chuộc lỗi là bước đầu tiên. (He believes that turning himself in to atone for his mistakes is the first step.)

1. (cũ) Give oneself up (to the policẹ.)