Definition

Noun: - Hallowed memory (of a deceased person): Refers to the revered and sacred spirit or memory of a deceased person, often a hero, ancestor, or martyr. It implies a spiritual presence that is powerful, benevolent, and worthy of veneration.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Chúng tôi thắp hương tưởng nhớ anh linh các liệt sĩ. (We light incense to commemorate the hallowed memory of the martyrs.)
  • Cầu mong anh linh tổ tiên phù hộ. (We pray for the hallowed spirits of our ancestors to bestow their blessings.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is primarily used in formal, literary, or ceremonial contexts, especially during commemorations, death anniversaries (), or when referring to national heroes and ancestors. It carries a deep sense of respect and sacredness.
• It can sometimes be used attributively as an adjective in older or more literary texts to describe something as spiritually potent or sacred (e.g., a deity or a place), though this usage is less common in modern Vietnamese.

Variants and Related Words

• Linh hồn (noun): Soul, spirit. A more general and common term for the soul of a living or deceased person, without the specific connotation of sacred heroism.
• Hương hồn (noun): Departed soul. A respectful term for the soul of the deceased, often used in prayers or eulogies.
• Âm linh (noun): Spirits of the deceased. A term that can refer to spirits in the underworld, sometimes with a broader or less individually venerated sense.

Synonyms

• Vong linh (noun): Spirit of the deceased. A synonym often used in similar contexts of remembrance and prayer.
• Hồn thiêng (noun): Sacred spirit. A poetic term emphasizing the sacred and powerful nature of the spirit.

Notes on Meaning

• The term anh linh is deeply rooted in Vietnamese spiritual and cultural practices related to ancestor worship and hero veneration. It is not used for ordinary, recent deaths but is reserved for those who are collectively remembered and honored.
• The reference from the Vietnamese-French dictionary mentions "doué d'une puissance surnaturelle" (endowed with supernatural power), which aligns with the concept of a potent, protective spirit that can influence the living world.

noun

1. Hallowed memory (of a deceased person)