Definition

1. Noun:
   • The twelfth Earthly Branch: "Hợi" is the twelfth and final term in the traditional Vietnamese system of twelve Earthly Branches (Thập Nhị Chi), used in the lunar calendar, astrology, and timekeeping. It is symbolically associated with the Pig.
   • The hour of the Pig: In the traditional system of dividing the day into 12 two-hour periods, "giờ Hợi" specifically refers to the period from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
   • The year of the Pig: When referring to the zodiac, "tuổi Hợi" or "năm Hợi" indicates a year or a person born under the sign of the Pig in the 12-year zodiac cycle.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy tuổi Hợi. (He was born in the year of the Pig.)
  • Giờ Hợi là từ 9 giờ tối đến 11 giờ đêm. (The hour of Hợi is from 9 PM to 11 PM.)
  • Hợi là chi cuối cùng trong thập nhị chi. (Hợi is the last branch in the twelve Earthly Branches.)

Advanced Usage

• "Canh Hợi": This is a compound term used in the 60-year cycle (Lục Thập Hoa Giáp), formed by combining a Heavenly Stem (Canh) with the Earthly Branch (Hợi). It refers to a specific year, such as 1971 or 2031 in the Gregorian calendar.
  • Năm Canh Hợi 1971. (The year of Canh Hợi, 1971.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tuổi Hợi (n): The Year of the Pig; used to describe someone's zodiac sign or a specific year.
  • Bà tôi tuổi Hợi. (My grandmother was born in the year of the Pig.)
• Giờ Hợi (n): The two-hour period of Hợi (9 PM - 11 PM).
  • Mọi việc thường diễn ra vào giờ Hợi. (Things often happen during the hour of Hợi.)

Synonyms

• Chi Hợi: Another way to refer to the Earthly Branch "Hợi," emphasizing its position in the cycle.
• Lợn / Heo: These are the common Vietnamese words for "pig," the animal symbol for this branch. However, they are not direct synonyms for the calendrical term "Hợi."

Related Phrases

• Đến tuổi Hợi: To reach the age corresponding to the year of the Pig in the zodiac cycle (e.g., 12, 24, 36, etc.).
  • Cháu tôi vừa đến tuổi Hợi. (My niece/nephew just turned 12 [or another age in the Pig cycle].)

Related Idioms

• "Dậu đánh Hợi, Hợi đánh Tý": An idiom referring to a chaotic, disorderly fight where everyone is hitting everyone else, using the names of consecutive Earthly Branches (Dậu - Rooster, Hợi - Pig, Tý - Rat). It implies a messy, uncontrollable situation.
  • Cảnh tượng đó loạn như "Dậu đánh Hợi, Hợi đánh Tý". (That scene was as chaotic as "the Rooster hitting the Pig, the Pig hitting the Rat.")

1. The twelfth Earthly Branch (symbolized by the pig)
   • Giờ hợi
     Time from 21 to 23 p.m
   • Tuổi hợi
     Born in the year of the pig