Cao sơn lưu thủy
Definition
- Noun Phrase (Idiom):
- Lofty mountains and flowing streams: A classical Vietnamese idiom derived from Chinese, directly describing majestic natural scenery of high mountains and running water.
- Sublime and profound friendship: The most common figurative meaning, describing a deep, understanding, and resonant friendship between kindred spirits, akin to the harmony found in sublime nature.
- A masterpiece of music: Often used to praise a piece of music (especially traditional or guqin music) that is sublimely beautiful, profound, and moving, evoking the imagery of majestic landscapes.
Usage Examples
- Noun Phrase:
- Tình bạn giữa họ thật đúng là "cao sơn lưu thủy". (Their friendship is truly "lofty mountains and flowing streams".)
- Bản nhạc này nghe tựa như "cao sơn lưu thủy". (This piece of music sounds like "lofty mountains and flowing streams".)
- Phong cảnh nơi đây đẹp như bức tranh "cao sơn lưu thủy". (The scenery here is as beautiful as a painting of "lofty mountains and flowing streams".)
Advanced Usage
- The idiom originates from an ancient Chinese story about the musician Bo Ya and his friend Zhong Ziqi. When Bo Ya played the guqin, Zhong Ziqi could understand the music perfectly, whether it depicted "lofty mountains" or "flowing streams". After Ziqi's death, Bo Ya broke his instrument, feeling no one else could understand his music. Thus, the phrase became synonymous with a perfectly understanding, precious friendship or artistic expression.
Variants and Related Words
- Tri âm (n): A soulmate, a kindred spirit who understands one deeply (especially in music or art). This is the core concept behind the figurative meaning of "cao sơn lưu thủy".
- Nước non (n): A poetic term for "country" or "landscape", sometimes used interchangeably in certain poetic contexts to refer to natural beauty or the nation.
Synonyms
- Profound friendship: A deep and meaningful bond.
- Kindred spirits: People who share similar attitudes, interests, or feelings.
- Sublime music: Music that inspires awe through beauty and grandeur.
Related Idioms
- Tri kỷ (n): A close, understanding friend. This is essentially the human relationship described by "cao sơn lưu thủy".
- Đồng thanh tương ứng, đồng khí tương cầu: "Like voices echo together, like energies attract each other." This expresses a similar idea of natural harmony and attraction between compatible people.