Kén ngựa
Definition
- Noun:
- A horse chosen for its inner qualities, not its appearance: A metaphorical term for a person or thing selected based on its essential talent, virtue, or potential, while overlooking superficial characteristics like appearance, gender, or color. It originates from an ancient Chinese parable.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Công ty cần tìm những "kén ngựa" thực sự, những người có tư duy đổi mới chứ không chỉ có ngoại hình ưa nhìn. (The company needs to find real "horse selections," people with innovative thinking, not just a pleasant appearance.)
- Trong giáo dục, giáo viên giỏi là người biết phát hiện ra "kén ngựa" giữa các học sinh. (In education, a good teacher is one who knows how to spot a "chosen horse" among the students.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used metaphorically to discuss the philosophy of selection, evaluation, or talent scouting. It praises the discernment of the selector who sees true worth beneath the surface.
Variants and Related Words
- Kén chọn (v): to select carefully, to choose with discernment.
- Anh ấy rất kén chọn bạn bè. (He is very selective about his friends.)
Synonyms
- Hidden gem: a person or thing of exceptional quality that is not immediately recognized.
- Rough diamond: a person with good qualities but lacking polish or sophistication.
- Talent scout: (in the context of the action) the act of finding talented individuals based on potential.
Related Idioms/Proverb
- Xem tướng kén ngựa: To judge or select based on inner qualities rather than outward form. This is the core lesson of the parable.
- Nhà tuyển dụng đó có con mắt "xem tướng kén ngựa", ông ấy đã tìm ra nhiều nhân tài cho công ty. (That recruiter has an eye for "selecting horses by their essence"; he has found many talents for the company.)