Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to the worship of money or gold; materialistic: Describes an attitude or behavior that excessively values wealth, money, or material possessions, often likened to idolatry. This is a literary and somewhat rare term.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tư tưởng bái kim đang len lỏi vào xã hội. (A materialistic mindset is creeping into society.)
  • Anh ta bị chỉ trích vì lối sống bái kim. (He was criticized for his money-worshipping lifestyle.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is primarily used in formal, literary, or critical contexts to critique excessive materialism. It is not common in everyday conversation.
• It can function attributively to modify nouns, e.g., (the ideology of money-worship).

Variants and Related Words

• Sùng bái (v): to worship, to adore. While can be used for various objects of worship (gods, idols, celebrities), specifies the object as money/gold.
• Vật chất (adj/n): material, materialistic. This is a more common and neutral term for materialism.
• Thờ ơ (adj): indifferent. This is an antonym in terms of attitude, not a direct synonym.

Synonyms

• Thực dụng (adj): pragmatic, utilitarian. Can have a negative connotation similar to when implying a sole focus on material gain.
• Trọng của (phrase): valuing possessions. A descriptive phrase for being materialistic.

Related Phrases

• Chủ nghĩa vật chất (n): materialism (as a philosophy or lifestyle).
• Thờ tiền (v, phrase): to worship money. A more direct and colloquial equivalent to the concept of .

Notes on Meaning

• The term bái kim is a compound word itself, formed from (to worship, to bow) and (gold, money). Its definition is inherently tied to this compound meaning of "worshipping gold/money."
• It carries a strong negative and moralistic judgment, implying a critique of greed and the replacement of spiritual or ethical values with purely financial ones.