Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Humane, benevolent, charitable: Possessing or showing a broad, universal love and compassion for all people and all living beings.
   • Relating to humanity/fraternity: Pertaining to the principle of universal brotherhood and compassion, often in a moral or ethical context.

2. Noun (less common, but used in specific compounds):

   • Charity, philanthropy: The act or principle of loving-kindness and altruism towards others.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Bà ấy là một người rất giàu bác ái. (She is a person very full of humaneness.)
  • Tinh thần bác ái là nền tảng của nhiều tôn giáo. (The spirit of benevolence is the foundation of many religions.)
• Noun (in set phrases):
  • Lòng bác ái của cô ấy khiến mọi người cảm phục. (Her charity/philanthropy makes everyone admire her.)

Advanced Usage

• "bác ái vị tha": selfless charity/benevolence.
  • Hành động cứu giúp người hoạn nạn xuất phát từ tinh thần bác ái vị tha. (The act of helping people in distress stems from a spirit of selfless charity.)
• Used in formal, literary, or religious contexts to denote a high moral virtue of universal love, often associated with religious teachings (e.g., Christianity) or humanitarian ideals.

Variants and Related Words

• Nhân ái (adj): Kind, compassionate, humane. (Often used interchangeably with , but can sound slightly more everyday, while is more formal/literary.)
• Từ thiện (adj/n): Charitable, philanthropy. (Focuses more on the practical acts of giving aid, while emphasizes the underlying spirit of love.)
• Bác ái học (n): Philanthropy (the study or practice of).
• Ái (morpheme): Love, affection. (A root found in many compounds like - love, - humane love.)

Synonyms

• Nhân từ: Benevolent, merciful.
• Khoan dung: Tolerant, lenient.
• Vị tha: Altruistic, selfless.
• Nhân đạo: Humanitarian.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "Tự do, bình đẳng, bác ái": "Liberty, equality, fraternity/humanity." The famous motto, translated into Vietnamese.
• "Làm việc bác ái": To do charitable work.
  • Cô ấy dành cả đời để làm việc bác ái. (She devoted her whole life to doing charitable work.)

adj

1. Humane
   • giàu tình bác ái
     full of humaneness
   • khẩu hiệu tự do, bình đẳng, bác ái
     the freedom, equality and humanity motto