Definition

1. Noun:
   • A beneficial friend: A good friend who can provide help, support, or useful assistance. The term combines the idea of benefit (ích) and friendship (hữu), denoting a friend who is genuinely advantageous to one's life or endeavors.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong cuộc đời, ai cũng mong có được vài người bạn thực sự là ích hữu. (In life, everyone hopes to have a few friends who are truly beneficial friends.)
  • Anh ấy không chỉ là bạn mà còn là một ích hữu, luôn đưa ra những lời khuyên đúng đắn. (He is not just a friend but also a beneficial friend, always giving sound advice.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is formal and literary, often used in written Vietnamese or in reflective speech about the nature of true friendship. It implies a deep, mutually supportive relationship that goes beyond casual companionship.

Variants and Related Words

• Bạn hữu (n): friends, companions (a general term for friends).
• Bạn tốt (n): good friend.
• Bạn vàng (n): a precious, invaluable friend (idiomatic).

Synonyms

• Beneficial friend: A friend who provides help and positive influence.
• True friend: A loyal and supportive friend.
• Helpful companion: An associate who offers assistance.

Related Idioms

• While "ích hữu" itself is not typically part of a common idiom, the concept relates to proverbs about friendship:
  • Giàu vì bạn, sang vì vợ. (One becomes rich because of friends, noble because of one's wife.) This highlights the value of beneficial relationships.