Definition

1. Noun:
   • The beginning; the origin; the very first point in time or existence of something. This term refers to the absolute start, the primordial moment from which everything else follows. It carries a formal and somewhat philosophical tone, often used for grand concepts like the universe, time, or civilization.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Theo thần thoại, khởi thuỷ chỉ có hỗn độn. (According to myth, in the beginning there was only chaos.)
  • Khởi thuỷ của vũ trụ vẫn là một bí ẩn. (The origin of the universe remains a mystery.)
  • Từ khởi thuỷ, con người đã biết sử dụng công cụ. (From the very beginning, humans have known how to use tools.)

Advanced Usage

• "từ khởi thuỷ": from the very beginning; from the origin.
  • Mối quan hệ này đã có vấn đề từ khởi thuỷ. (This relationship had problems from the very beginning.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ban đầu (n): the initial stage; the start. (Less formal and profound than "khởi thuỷ").

  • Ban đầu, dự án gặp nhiều khó khăn. (Initially, the project faced many difficulties.)

• Nguyên thuỷ (adj/n): primitive; primordial. (Often used to describe a primitive state or era).

  • Rừng nguyên thuỷ (primitive forest).

Synonyms

• Origin: the point or place where something begins.
• Beginning: the point in time or space at which something starts.
• Inception: the establishment or starting point of an institution or activity.
• Dawn: the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise; metaphorically, the beginning.

Related Idioms

• "Khởi đầu nan": The beginning is difficult. (Equivalent to "All beginnings are hard").
  • Công việc nào cũng vậy, khởi đầu nan. (With any job, the beginning is difficult.)