Lời hạ quỹ

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The words of the grass-basket carrier: A classical Chinese idiom originating from the Analects of Confucius. It refers to the insightful, often admonishing or advising, words spoken by a humble, common person (specifically, a carrier of a grass basket) that carry profound wisdom or timely advice, usually directed towards a superior or learned figure.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Đó thực sự là một "lời hạ quỹ" thức tỉnh cho vị lãnh đạo. (That was truly a "grass-basket carrier's words" that awakened the leader.)
  • Anh ta không nghe "lời hạ quỹ" của người lao động bình thường và cuối cùng thất bại. (He did not heed the "grass-basket carrier's words" of the ordinary worker and ultimately failed.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is used in literary, philosophical, or formal contexts to emphasize that wisdom can come from the most unexpected and humble sources. It often carries a nuance of a missed or unheeded piece of crucial advice from a simple person.

Variants and Related Words

• Lời khuyên chân thành (n): sincere advice.
  • Tôi trân trọng lời khuyên chân thành của bạn. (I value your sincere advice.)

Synonyms

• Words of wisdom from an unexpected source: Insightful advice from a humble origin.
• Timely admonition: A warning or piece of advice given at a crucial moment.

Related Idioms

• Lời nói gió bay: Words are just wind (meaning words are easily forgotten or ignored).

  • Đừng để lời khuyên tốt thành lời nói gió bay. (Don't let good advice become just words in the wind.)

• Nước sông không phạm nước giếng: River water does not violate well water (meaning to live and let live, or to mind one's own business; this relates thematically to the original story where the carrier suggests Confucius should adapt to circumstances).

  • Họ sống theo nguyên tắc "nước sông không phạm nước giếng". (They live by the principle of "river water does not violate well water.")