Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a happy ending: Used primarily to describe a story, novel, film, or narrative that concludes in a positive, fortunate, or satisfying manner for the main characters.
   • Constant / Steadfast / Dependable: Used to describe a person's character, specifically their consistent, loyal, and reliable behavior in relationships over a long period.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (happy ending):

  • Tôi thích đọc những câu chuyện có hậu. (I like to read stories with a happy ending.)
  • Bộ phim này có hậu, mọi người đều đoàn tụ. (This movie has a happy ending; everyone is reunited.)

• Adjective (constant in behavior):

  • Ông ấy là một người bạn rất có hậu. (He is a very steadfast friend.)
  • Ăn ở có hậu sẽ được mọi người quý trọng. (Behaving with constancy will earn you everyone's respect.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in literary and cultural criticism to categorize narratives. It implies a sense of moral justice and poetic closure.
• When describing a person, có hậu carries a strong positive connotation of deep-rooted virtue, suggesting someone who is not only kind but consistently so, especially through difficult times.

Variants and Related Words

• Kết thúc có hậu (n): A happy ending (literally "an ending that is ").
  • Khán giả mong đợi một kết thúc có hậu cho cô ấy. (The audience expects a happy ending for her.)

Synonyms

• Happy ending: (for stories) fortunate conclusion, uplifting ending.
• Steadfast: (for people) loyal, constant, dependable, reliable.

Related Idioms

• Ở hiền gặp lành: Literally "be good, meet good," meaning virtue is rewarded. This concept is closely related to the narrative idea of có hậu.
  • Câu chuyện có hậu thường minh họa cho triết lý ở hiền gặp lành. (A story with a happy ending often illustrates the philosophy that goodness begets goodness.)

1. Having a happy ending
   • truyện có hậu
     a novel with a happy ending
2. Constant (in one's relations with others)
   • ăn ở có hậu
     to behave with constancy