Tiền nhân hậu quả
Definition
- Idiom (Thành ngữ):
- "As you sow, so shall you reap" / "You reap what you sow": This is the core meaning. It expresses the universal principle of cause and effect, where actions (the cause) inevitably lead to corresponding results or consequences (the effect).
- "Past actions determine present results": This meaning emphasizes the temporal sequence where a cause created in the past directly leads to an outcome experienced in the present.
- "Karmic consequence": In a Buddhist or spiritual context, it specifically refers to the law of karma, where one's intentional actions (karma) in a previous life or the past create the conditions and experiences of the current life.
Usage Examples
- Idiom:
- Anh ta lừa đảo nhiều người, giờ bị tù là đúng luật tiền nhân hậu quả. (He deceived many people; now going to prison is exactly the law of "as you sow, so shall you reap".)
- Cô ấy chăm chỉ học tập từ nhỏ, tiền nhân hậu quả, bây giờ cô ấy có một sự nghiệp thành công. (She studied diligently from a young age; past actions determine present results, now she has a successful career.)
- Theo quan niệm tiền nhân hậu quả, sự giàu có của kiếp này có thể do phước đức từ kiếp trước. (According to the concept of karmic consequence, the wealth of this life may be due to merits from a past life.)
Advanced Usage
- This idiom is often used in moral, ethical, or reflective contexts to explain current circumstances (good or bad) as a direct result of past conduct. It serves as a reminder of personal responsibility for one's actions.
Variants and Related Words
- Gieo nhân nào, gặt quả ấy (Idiom): A more colloquial and direct equivalent meaning "You reap the fruit of the seed you sow."
- Nhân quả (Noun): Cause and effect; karma.
- Luật nhân quả là không thể tránh khỏi. (The law of cause and effect is inevitable.)
- Quả báo (Noun): Retribution; karmic retribution (often with a negative connotation).
- Đó là quả báo cho những việc ác anh ta đã làm. (That is the retribution for the evil deeds he committed.)
Synonyms
- Cause and effect: The principle that every action has a consequence.
- Karma: (In Hinduism and Buddhism) The sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.
- Recompense: Reward or punishment for actions.
Related Idioms
- Ở hiền gặp lành: Literally "Being kind, meeting good"; meaning good deeds lead to good fortune.
- Ác giả ác báo: Literally "The evil-doer gets evil retribution"; meaning those who do evil will receive evil in return.