Definition

1. Noun:
   • Sense of purpose; aspiration; ambition: A persistent and determined will to achieve a noble or meaningful goal in life. It refers to one's guiding principles and long-term objectives.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy là một thanh niên có chí hướng. (He is a young man with a sense of purpose.)
  • Họ cùng theo đuổi một chí hướng làm cho dân giàu nước mạnh. (They are animated by the same sense of purpose, which is to bring prosperity to the people and strength to the country.)
  • Cô ấy luôn giữ vững chí hướng của mình dù gặp nhiều khó khăn. (She always maintains her aspirations despite many difficulties.)

Advanced Usage

• "Chí hướng cao cả / cao thượng": Noble / lofty aspirations.
  • Người lính đó có chí hướng cao cả là bảo vệ Tổ quốc. (That soldier has the noble aspiration of protecting the Fatherland.)
• "Theo đuổi chí hướng": To pursue one's aspirations.
  • Cả cuộc đời ông ấy đã theo đuổi chí hướng nghiên cứu khoa học. (His whole life has been spent pursuing his aspiration for scientific research.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chí (n): Will, determination. Often used in compounds related to willpower and ambition (e.g., chí khí - mettle, spirit; ý chí - willpower).
• Hướng (n/v): Direction; to head towards. Often used in compounds related to direction and orientation (e.g., phương hướng - direction; hướng nghiệp - career orientation).
• Lý tưởng (n): Ideal. While similar, lý tưởng often refers to a perfect standard or principle one believes in, whereas chí hướng emphasizes the determined will to achieve a goal.
• Hoài bão (n): Ambition, great desire. This is a very close synonym, often used interchangeably with chí hướng, but can sometimes imply a grander, more passionate dream.

Synonyms

• Hoài bão: Ambition, great aspiration.
• Khát vọng: Aspiration, yearning, strong desire.
• Mục tiêu (lớn/lâu dài): (Long-term/grand) goal.
• Lý tưởng (sống): (Life's) ideal.

Idioms and Set Phrases

• "Chí tại bốn phương" / "Chí tang bồng": Literally "will is in the four directions" / "will of the mulberry and cogongrass" (old weapons). This idiom describes someone with great ambitions to achieve something significant in the wide world, often away from home.
  • Tuổi trẻ chí tại bốn phương, hãy ra đi và lập nghiệp. (Young people should have great ambitions; go out and make your career.)
• "Có chí thì nên": A very common proverb meaning "Where there's a will, there's a way." It emphasizes that determination (chí) leads to success (nên).

noun

1. Sense of purpose
   • cùng theo đuổi một chí hướng làm cho dân giàu nước mạnh
     to be animated by the same sense of purpose which is to bring prosperity to the people and strength to the country
   • một thanh niên có chí hướng
     a youth with a sense of purpose