Thoát

Thoát is a Vietnamese verb meaning to escape, to get out of confinement or danger, or to shed, detach, or withdraw from something. It is used in literal senses—such as slipping out of a grip or confinement—and in metaphorical senses, where it denotes disengagement from a situation or constraint. The word comes from Sino-Vietnamese 脫, which carries the idea of shedding or detaching.

In everyday usage, thoát appears in common phrases such as thoát khỏi nguy hiểm (to escape from danger) and thoát chết (to narrowly avoid death). It also forms terms related to safe passage or removal of liquids, for example lối thoát hiểm (emergency exit) and hệ thống thoát nước (drainage system). In medical language, thoát vị denotes herniation, as in thoát vị đĩa đệm. In religious or philosophical contexts, thoát tục refers to renunciation of worldly life or withdrawal from secular concerns.

Etymology and usage notes: The term derives from the Sino-Vietnamese reading of 脫, emphasizing shedding, detaching, or escaping. In modern Vietnamese, thoát functions primarily as a verb but also appears in fixed expressions and compound nouns. It is widely used across formal and informal registers, with nuances ranging from literal escape to broader notions of release, exit, or disengagement.