Definition

1. Noun:
   • Discipline, order, rules: Refers to the system of rules, regulations, and discipline that maintains order and proper conduct within a society, organization, or group.
   • Social order, established norms: Denotes the established framework of laws, customs, and moral principles that govern a community.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Một xã hội phát triển cần có kỉ cương. (A developing society needs discipline/order.)
  • Nhà trường phải giữ vững kỉ cương. (The school must maintain discipline.)
  • Thời nào kỉ cương ấy. (Other times, other customs; literally: Each era has its own order/discipline.)

Advanced Usage

• "thiết lập kỉ cương": to establish discipline/order.
  • Chính phủ mới quyết tâm thiết lập lại kỉ cương. (The new government is determined to re-establish order.)
• "kỉ cương phép nước": the discipline and laws of the state; the legal and social order of a nation.
  • Mọi người phải tôn trọng kỉ cương phép nước. (Everyone must respect the laws and order of the state.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kỉ luật (n): Discipline (often more specific to rules within an organization, military, or school).
  • Anh ấy bị kỉ luật vì đi muộn. (He was disciplined for being late.)
• Nền nếp (n): Orderliness, routine, established practice (often implies good habits and a regular, orderly way of doing things).
  • Gia đình ấy sống rất có nền nếp. (That family lives very orderly.)

Synonyms

• Trật tự (n): Order.
• Quy củ (n): Rules, regulations, established ways.
• Phép tắc (n): Rules, manners, propriety.

Related Phrases

• "Mất kỉ cương": to lose discipline/order; for order to break down.
  • Xã hội sẽ hỗn loạn nếu mất kỉ cương. (Society will be chaotic if discipline is lost.)
• "Giữ gìn kỉ cương": to preserve/maintain discipline and order.
  • Người lãnh đạo phải biết giữ gìn kỉ cương. (A leader must know how to maintain discipline.)

Related Idioms

• "Phép vua thua lệ làng": The king's law yields to village customs. This idiom highlights a potential tension between central authority ( of the state) and local traditions/rules.
  • Đôi khi phép vua thua lệ làng, nên cần linh hoạt. (Sometimes the king's law yields to village customs, so flexibility is needed.)