lạm dụng
Hanoi [laːm˧˨ʔ zʊwŋ͡m˧˨ʔ]Huế [laːm˨˩ʔ jʊwŋ͡m˨˩ʔ]Saigon [laːm˨˩˨ jʊwŋ͡m˨˩˨] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
lạm dụng means to overuse or to abuse; to abuse.
Chinese characters: 濫用 (濫 “excessively” + 用 “use”)
Meanings of lạm dụng in English
Verb
- to overuse or to abuse (to use improperly)
- to abuse (to hurt)
- lạm dụng tình dụcto sexually abuse
Example sentences with lạm dụng
- Vị vua đã lạm dụng quyền hành. The king abused his power.
- Từ "giả thuyết" rất hay bị lạm dụng. The word "theory" is often misused.
- Tôi không muốn lạm dụng. I don't want to take too much advantage.
- Giáo dục ở bất kì hình thức nào đều là lạm dụng trẻ em. Education in any form is child abuse.
- Việc lạm dụng giảm giá đã làm giảm giá trị nhãn hàng theo thời gian. The overuse of discounts has cheapened the brand's value over time.
Bilingual example sentences from Tatoeba (tatoeba.org, CC BY 2.0 FR).
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 濫用, composed of 濫 (“excessively”) and 用 (“use”).
Frequently asked questions
What does lạm dụng mean in English?
lạm dụng (verb) means "to overuse or to abuse; to abuse".
How do you pronounce lạm dụng?
IPA: Hanoi [laːm˧˨ʔ zʊwŋ͡m˧˨ʔ]; Saigon [laːm˨˩˨ jʊwŋ͡m˨˩˨]. Tones: lạm — heavy tone (nặng), dụng — heavy tone (nặng).
Is lạm dụng a Sino-Vietnamese word?
Yes. lạm dụng is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 濫用.