công tâm
Definition
- Adjective:
- Impartial / Fair-minded: The primary meaning of "công tâm" is to be fair, just, and unbiased in judgment or action, without favoritism or personal prejudice. It emphasizes prioritizing objective fairness and the common good over personal interests.
- Public-spirited / Devoted to the common good: It also describes an attitude or character dedicated to the general welfare and public interest.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Một vị quan tòa phải luôn công tâm. (A judge must always be impartial.)
- Anh ấy đưa ra nhận xét rất công tâm. (He gave a very fair-minded comment.)
- Họ cần một giải pháp công tâm cho mọi bên. (They need a solution that is fair to all parties.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in formal, ethical, or professional contexts to describe an ideal standard of conduct, such as in leadership, journalism, or arbitration.
- Tinh thần công tâm là nền tảng của dịch vụ công. (A public-spirited attitude is the foundation of public service.)
Variants and Related Words
- Công bằng (adj): just, equitable. While "công bằng" often relates to justice and equality of outcome, "công tâm" focuses more on the internal impartiality of the person making a judgment.
- Vô tư (adj): disinterested, neutral. "Vô tư" can imply detachment, whereas "công tâm" implies active fairness for the common good.
Synonyms
- Impartial: treating all rivals or disputants equally.
- Fair-minded: just and unbiased.
- Equitable: characterized by fairness.
- Unbiased: showing no prejudice.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Giữ vững lập trường công tâm: to maintain an impartial stance.
- Nhà báo phải giữ vững lập trường công tâm. (Journalists must maintain an impartial stance.)
- Vì công tâm: for the sake of fairness / in the public interest.
- Hành động vì công tâm, không vì tư lợi. (Act for the sake of fairness, not for personal gain.)