Definition

1. Noun:
   • Origin; source; root: The fundamental beginning, cause, or primary source from which something develops or originates. It refers to the deepest, most foundational point of something's existence or history.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy muốn tìm hiểu về cỗi nguồn của dân tộc. (He wants to learn about the origin of the nation.)
  • Truyền thuyết này giải thích cỗi nguồn của ngày lễ. (This legend explains the source of the holiday.)
  • Tình yêu thương gia đình là cỗi nguồn của hạnh phúc. (Family love is the root of happiness.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "cỗi nguồn" is literary and carries a profound, almost philosophical weight. It is used for abstract, historical, or spiritual concepts (e.g., culture, tradition, a people) rather than the physical starting point of a river, for which "nguồn" alone is more common.

Variants and Related Words

• Nguồn gốc (n): Origin, root. This is the more common and versatile synonym in everyday language.

  • Nguồn gốc của sản phẩm được ghi trên bao bì. (The product's origin is printed on the packaging.)

• Khởi nguồn (v): To originate from, to stem from.

  • Phong tục này khởi nguồn từ một tín ngưỡng cổ xưa. (This custom originates from an ancient belief.)

• Cội rễ (n): Roots (often used metaphorically, similar to "cỗi nguồn," but can also refer to tree roots).

  • Họ luôn nhớ về cội rễ của mình. (They always remember their roots.)

Synonyms

• Origin: The point or place where something begins.
• Source: The place, person, or thing from which something originates.
• Root: The basic cause, source, or origin of something.

Related Idioms

• "Về nguồn": To return to the source/origin. This common idiom implies reconnecting with one's cultural or ancestral roots.
  • Lễ hội là dịp để mọi người về nguồn. (The festival is an occasion for people to return to their origins.)