có hạnh
Definition
- Adjective:
- Virtuous, having good character: Describes a person, especially a woman, who possesses and demonstrates high moral standards, integrity, and proper conduct. This is a literary and somewhat old-fashioned term.
- Fortunate, blessed: In a broader, more classical sense, it can imply being favored by good fortune or having a blessed lot in life, often as a result of virtuous behavior.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Người phụ nữ ấy rất có hạnh. (That woman is very virtuous.)
- Trong truyện cổ, những cô gái có hạnh thường được đền đáp xứng đáng. (In folk tales, virtuous girls are often duly rewarded.)
- Làm việc thiện, tích đức để đời sau có hạnh. (Do good deeds and accumulate virtue so that future generations will be blessed.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "có hạnh" is rarely used in modern, everyday Vietnamese. It belongs to a more formal, literary, or classical register. In contemporary language, its meaning is more commonly expressed by words like (virtue) or phrases describing moral character directly.
- It can sometimes be found in classical literature, proverbs, or in contexts discussing traditional Confucian values regarding female virtue.
Variants and Related Words
- Đức hạnh (n): Virtue, moral integrity. This noun is the more common modern correlate.
- Bà ấy là người đầy đức hạnh. (She is a person full of virtue.)
- Phúc hạnh (n): Blessing, good fortune and virtue (combining - blessing - and ).
- Tiết hạnh (n): Chastity and virtue (a more specific term, often historical).
Synonyms
- Đức độ: Virtuous, dignified.
- Hiền đức: Gentle and virtuous.
- Phúc hậu: Kind-hearted and blessed (emphasizes kindness and good fortune).
Related Phrases
- "Ăn ở có hạnh": To live a virtuous life (to behave virtuously).
- Cụ bà cả đời ăn ở có hạnh, được mọi người kính trọng. (The old lady lived a virtuous life and was respected by everyone.)