Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Sublime; lofty; elevated: Describes something of exceptional intellectual, moral, or spiritual quality, far surpassing the ordinary. It often refers to abstract concepts like thought, virtue, or art.
   • Unattainable; rarefied: Describes something so high or perfect that it is difficult or nearly impossible to achieve or reach.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Triết học của ông ấy thật cao siêu. (His philosophy is truly sublime.)
  • Đó là một ước mơ cao siêu nhưng khó thành hiện thực. (That is an unattainable dream, difficult to realize.)
  • Anh ta thể hiện kỹ thuật cao siêu trong bức tranh này. (He demonstrates lofty technique in this painting.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used to describe abstract ideals, profound wisdom, or exceptional skill that inspires awe. It can carry a slightly ironic or critical tone when used to describe something perceived as overly abstract or disconnected from practical reality.
  • Anh đừng nói những lý thuyết cao siêu ấy, hãy đưa ra giải pháp cụ thể. (Don't talk about those rarefied theories, give me a concrete solution.)

Variants and Related Words

• Siêu việt (adj): transcendent; superior; surpassing. Often used interchangeably with "cao siêu" but can imply surpassing all others.
  • trí tuệ siêu việt (transcendent intelligence)

Synonyms

• Sublime: Of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.
• Lofty: Of imposing height; elevated in character, spirit, or style.
• Elevated: Raised to a higher intellectual or moral level.
• Rarified: Very high, refined, or complex, and thus exclusive.

Related Idioms

• While "cao siêu" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is the core concept in phrases like:
  • Tư tưởng cao siêu: sublime/lofty ideals.
  • Lý tưởng cao siêu: lofty/unattainable ideals.

adj

1. Sublime
   • tư tưởng cao siêu
     sublime thinking
2. Unattainable
   • mong ước cao siêu
     an unattainable dream