Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Heroic and tragic; pathétique: Describes something that is both tragic/sorrowful and heroic/majestic, creating a profound, moving, and solemn emotional tone. It often characterizes events, stories, or artistic works involving great sacrifice, loss, or struggle, yet infused with grandeur and nobility.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Bộ phim kể về một giai đoạn lịch sử bi hùng của dân tộc. (The film tells about a heroic and tragic period in the nation's history.)
  • Câu chuyện của anh ấy thật bi hùng và đầy cảm xúc. (His story is truly heroic and tragic and full of emotion.)
  • Âm nhạc trong vở kịch mang một sắc thái bi hùng. (The music in the play carries a heroic and tragic tone.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is often used in literary, historical, or artistic criticism to describe narratives, characters, or atmospheres that blend sorrow with grandeur. It implies a depth of feeling that elevates tragedy into something noble and awe-inspiring.

Variants and Related Words

• Bi tráng: A direct synonym with the same meaning (heroic and tragic; epic and tragic).
• Bi thương: Tragic, sorrowful (emphasizes the sad aspect without the heroic connotation).
• Hùng tráng: Heroic, majestic, epic (emphasizes the grand, heroic aspect without the tragic connotation).

Synonyms

• Epic and tragic: Having the grand scale of an epic combined with tragic elements.
• Pathétique (French loanword used in Vietnamese contexts): Evoking pity, sadness, and tenderness, often with a dignified quality.

Related Idioms

• While "bi hùng" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is the core concept in phrases like:
  • Khúc ca bi hùng: A heroic and tragic song/epic.
  • Số phận bi hùng: A heroic and tragic fate/destiny.

1. như bi tráng