Definition

Adjective: * Useful, beneficial, having utility: Describes something that serves a purpose effectively, provides a practical advantage, or yields a positive result. It emphasizes practical value and benefit.

Usage

• This word is considered literary and somewhat archaic in modern Vietnamese. It is rarely used in everyday conversation.
• It is primarily found in formal writing, classical literature, or philosophical texts.
• It is used to describe objects, actions, ideas, or people that bring about usefulness or benefit.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Công cụ này rất ích dụng cho việc sửa chữa. (This tool is very useful for repairs.)
  • Anh ấy là một người bạn ích dụng, luôn sẵn sàng giúp đỡ. (He is a beneficial friend, always ready to help.)
  • Chúng ta nên học những kiến thức ích dụng cho cuộc sống. (We should learn knowledge that is useful for life.)

Advanced Usage

• The word can be used in a more abstract or philosophical sense to discuss the utility or benefit of concepts, morals, or actions.
  • Đạo đức không chỉ là lý thuyết mà phải có tính ích dụng thực tế. (Ethics is not just theory but must have practical utility.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ích lợi (n): Benefit, advantage. (More common than "ích dụng").
  • Việc tập thể dục mang lại nhiều ích lợi cho sức khỏe. (Exercising brings many benefits to health.)
• Hữu ích (adj): Useful, beneficial. (The most common and modern synonym).
  • Đây là một lời khuyên hữu ích. (This is a useful piece of advice.)
• Có ích (adj phrase): Useful, beneficial. (Common colloquial phrase).
  • Hy vọng thông tin này có ích cho bạn. (I hope this information is useful to you.)

Synonyms

• Hữu dụng (adj): Useful, serviceable. (Also somewhat literary but less archaic than "ích dụng").
• Thiết thực (adj): Practical, pragmatic. (Emphasizes being realistic and applicable).

Antonyms

• Vô ích (adj): Useless, futile.
• Vô dụng (adj): Useless, good-for-nothing.

1. (ít dùng) Useful