Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Strictly austere (as a Buddhist): Refers to a lifestyle or practice characterized by rigorous abstinence, particularly from meat, alcohol, and sensual pleasures, often for religious or spiritual purification.
   • Chaste; pure: Describes a state of moral and spiritual purity, often associated with a simple, clean, and disciplined life.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Vị sư sống một cuộc đời chay tịnh. (The monk lives a strictly austere life.)
  • Bà ấy giữ tâm hồn chay tịnh, không vướng bận dục vọng. (She maintains a pure soul, unburdened by desires.)
  • Lễ Phật Đản, nhiều Phật tử ăn chay tịnh trong một tháng. (On Vesak Day, many Buddhists observe a strictly vegetarian fast for a month.)

Advanced Usage

• "sống chay tịnh": to live an austere/chaste life.
  • Sau khi quy y, ông ấy nguyện sống chay tịnh. (After taking refuge in the Three Jewels, he vowed to live an austere life.)
• "tịnh tâm chay tịnh": to have a pure and austere mind/heart.
  • Thiền định giúp con người đạt được tịnh tâm chay tịnh. (Meditation helps people achieve a pure and austere mind.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chay (adj/n): Vegetarian; fasting. (e.g., - to eat vegetarian food)
• Tịnh (adj): Pure; clean; tranquil. (e.g., - to purify the heart/mind)
• Thanh tịnh (adj): Peaceful and pure; serene. (A close synonym with a stronger emphasis on peacefulness.)

Synonyms

• Khắc khổ: Austere, ascetic (emphasizes hardship and strictness).
• Thanh khiết: Pure, clean (emphasizes cleanliness and lack of contamination).
• Trong sạch: Pure, clean (often used for moral purity).

Related Phrases

• Giữ giới chay tịnh: To observe/keep austere precepts.
  • Các tu sĩ phải giữ giới chay tịnh nghiêm ngặt. (Monks must observe austere precepts strictly.)
• Tu hành chay tịnh: To practice religion/spiritual cultivation austerely.
  • Bà dành cả phần đời còn lại để tu hành chay tịnh. (She devoted the rest of her life to practicing spiritual cultivation austerely.)

adj

1. Strictly austere (as a Buddhist)