Definition

1. Noun:

   • The third Heavenly Stem: In the traditional East Asian decimal cycle of Heavenly Stems (Thiên Can), "bính" is the third stem. This system is used in calendars, astrology, and historical chronology.

2. Adjective:

   • (Of clothing, shoes) Borrowed, not one's own: Describes items, especially garments or footwear, that are worn but belong to someone else.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Năm nay là năm Bính Thìn. (This year is the year of Bính Thìn [in the sexagenary cycle].)
  • Thiên can "Bính" đứng thứ ba, sau "Ất". (The Heavenly Stem "Bính" ranks third, after "Ất".)

• Adjective:

  • Cậu ấy đi đôi giày bính của anh trai. (He is wearing a pair of his older brother's borrowed shoes.)
  • Đừng mặc áo bính của người khác. (Don't wear other people's borrowed clothes.)

Advanced Usage

• "súng sính mặc bính của người": To sport or swagger in borrowed clothes; to show off wearing something that is not one's own. This phrase carries a negative connotation of pretentiousness.
  • Anh ta chẳng có gì ngoài việc súng sính mặc bính của người. (He has nothing but swaggers in borrowed plumes.)

Variants and Related Words

• Can Bính: A more formal term referring specifically to the Heavenly Stem "Bính".
• Bính Ngọ, Bính Tý, Bính Thân...: These are compound terms representing specific years in the 60-year cycle (e.g., Bính Ngọ, Bính Tý). They are listed here as related terms, not as the target word itself.

Synonyms

• Noun: Thiên can thứ ba (the third Heavenly Stem).
• Adjective: Mượn (borrowed). Note: "Mượn" is the general verb for "to borrow". "Bính" as an adjective is more specific and less common, typically found in fixed phrases.

Related Phrases

• Áo bính, quần bính, giày bính: These are noun phrases where "bính" acts as an adjective meaning "borrowed" (e.g., borrowed shirt, borrowed trousers, borrowed shoes).

Related Idioms

• Mặc áo bính: Literally "to wear borrowed clothes"; figuratively to use or present something that is not genuinely one's own.
  • Bài diễn văn đó chỉ là mặc áo bính ý tưởng của người khác. (That speech is just wearing the borrowed clothes of others' ideas.)

noun

1. The third Heaven's Stem

adj

1. (nói về quần áo, giày dép)+Borrowed
   • áo bính
     a borrowed dress
   • súng sính mặc bính của người
     to sport borrowed plumes