Definition

1. Noun:
   • Integrity, moral uprightness, noble character: "Khí tiết" refers to a person's steadfast adherence to strong moral and ethical principles, often demonstrated through unwavering courage and dignity, especially in the face of adversity, pressure, or temptation. It combines the concepts of willpower ("chí khí") and moral steadfastness ("tiết tháo").

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông ấy là một vị quan thanh liêm, có khí tiết. (He was an incorruptible mandarin with great integrity.)
  • Người anh hùng ấy đã giữ vững khí tiết trước kẻ thù. (That hero maintained his moral uprightness in front of the enemy.)
  • Lịch sử tôn vinh những trí thức có khí tiết. (History honors intellectuals with a noble sense of purpose.)

Advanced Usage

• "giữ vững khí tiết": to uphold/maintain one's integrity or moral steadfastness.
  • Dù bị tra tấn, người chiến sĩ ấy vẫn giữ vững khí tiết. (Despite being tortured, that soldier still upheld his moral integrity.)
• "khí tiết của kẻ sĩ": the integrity/noble character of a scholar or a person of principle.
  • Câu chuyện ca ngợi khí tiết của kẻ sĩ không khuất phục bạo quyền. (The story praises the integrity of scholars who did not submit to tyrannical power.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tiết tháo (n): moral integrity, chastity (often used for women in historical contexts, but also denotes steadfastness).
• Chí khí (n): willpower, spirit, mettle.
• Khí phách (n): mettle, spirit, courageous demeanor (often used in a more martial or heroic context).
• Trung kiên (adj): loyal and steadfast.

Synonyms

• Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
• Moral uprightness: righteous and virtuous character.
• Fortitude: courage in pain or adversity.
• Nobility of character: the quality of having high moral principles and ideals.

Related Phrases (Conceptual)

• "Sống có khí tiết": to live with integrity/a noble character.
  • Ông cụ dạy con cháu phải sống có khí tiết. (The old man taught his descendants to live with integrity.)
• "mất khí tiết": to lose one's integrity/ to compromise one's moral principles.
  • Vị tướng đó thà chết chứ không chịu mất khí tiết. (That general would rather die than lose his integrity.)

Related Idioms

• "Đói cho sạch, rách cho thơm": (Lit. Stay clean even when hungry, stay fragrant even in rags.) This idiom conveys a similar meaning to "khí tiết," emphasizing the importance of preserving one's dignity and moral character under any circumstances, especially poverty or hardship.
  • Câu tục ngữ "Đói cho sạch, rách cho thơm" khuyên người ta giữ khí tiết. (The proverb "Stay clean even when hungry, stay fragrant even in rags" advises people to maintain their integrity.)

1. Sense of purpose and uprightness