Definition

1. Verb:
   • To apply oneself, to devote one's mind to: "Gia tâm" means to focus one's mind and effort on something, to pay greater attention, or to dedicate oneself to a task or study.
   • To be more attentive, to pay closer heed: It indicates an increase in care, concentration, or seriousness towards a matter.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Học trò cần phải gia tâm học hành. (Students must apply themselves to their studies.)
  • Ông ấy gia tâm nghiên cứu vấn đề này. (He devoted his mind to researching this issue.)
  • Hãy gia tâm lắng nghe lời dạy. (Please pay closer heed to the teaching.)

Advanced Usage

• "Gia tâm" is an archaic, literary term. It is rarely used in modern, everyday Vietnamese and is most commonly found in classical texts, historical documents, or formal, stylized writing to convey a sense of earnest dedication.
  • Bậc quân tử luôn gia tâm tu dưỡng đạo đức. (A gentleman always applies himself to cultivating virtue.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chú tâm (Verb): To concentrate, to pay attention. (Modern, common equivalent)
  • Anh ấy chú tâm vào công việc. (He concentrates on his work.)
• Chuyên tâm (Verb): To be single-minded, to devote oneself wholeheartedly.
  • Cô ấy chuyên tâm luyện tập. (She devoted herself to practice.)
• Để tâm (Verb): To pay attention to, to take notice of.
  • Bạn nên để tâm đến chi tiết nhỏ. (You should pay attention to small details.)

Synonyms

• Chuyên cần: Diligent, industrious.
• Tận tụy: Devoted, dedicated.
• Tập trung: To focus, to concentrate.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Gia công (Verb): To work on, to process, to manufacture. (Note: This is a separate compound word; "gia" here means to add, and "công" means work.)
  • Nhà máy gia công sản phẩm. (The factory processes the product.)
• Gia hạn (Verb): To extend, to renew (a term, deadline). (Note: This is a separate compound word; "gia" means to add, and "hạn" means term/limit.)
  • Gia hạn hợp đồng thêm một năm. (To extend the contract for one more year.)

Related Idioms

• Gia tâm itself is not typically part of a common idiom. Its meaning is conveyed directly. A modern idiom with a similar sense of dedication is:
• Dốc lòng dốc sức: To put one's heart and soul into something, to strive with all one's might.
  • Anh ta dốc lòng dốc sức cho dự án. (He put his heart and soul into the project.)

1. (từ cũ; nghĩa cũ) apply oneself tọ