khai trí
Definition
- Verb:
- To enlighten, to cultivate the mind: The action of opening or developing someone's intellect, knowledge, or understanding. It implies fostering intelligence and broadening mental horizons.
- To educate, to instruct: The process of providing knowledge or education to develop a person's cognitive abilities.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Sách hay giúp khai trí cho con người. (Good books help to enlighten people.)
- Mục đích của giáo dục là khai trí cho thế hệ trẻ. (The purpose of education is to cultivate the minds of the young generation.)
- Ông ấy luôn tìm cách khai trí bản thân qua việc đọc sách. (He always seeks to enlighten himself through reading.)
Advanced Usage
- "Khai trí mở mang": A common paired phrase meaning "to enlighten and broaden (the mind)." It emphasizes the dual action of opening the intellect and expanding one's knowledge or perspective.
- Du lịch là một cách để khai trí mở mang. (Travel is a way to enlighten and broaden the mind.)
Variants and Related Words
- Khai sáng (Verb): To enlighten, to illuminate (often used in philosophical or broader societal contexts, e.g., the Enlightenment - ).
- Khai tâm (Verb): To initiate, to open the heart/mind (often used in spiritual or introductory educational contexts).
- Giáo dục (Verb/Noun): To educate; education (a more general and common term for the process of teaching and learning).
- Mở mang trí óc (Verb Phrase): To broaden one's mind (a descriptive phrase with a similar meaning).
Synonyms
- Mở mang kiến thức: To broaden knowledge.
- Bồi dưỡng trí tuệ: To nurture intelligence.
- Giác ngộ: To awaken, to become enlightened (can have a stronger spiritual connotation).
Notes on Usage
- Register: The word 'khai trí' is considered somewhat literary or formal in modern Vietnamese. It is less common in everyday casual speech than words like (educate) or (learn).
- Context: It is often used in educational, cultural, or self-improvement contexts. It carries a positive connotation of intellectual and moral development.
- Historical Note: As indicated in the reference, the term has an archaic flavor (). It was more prevalent in early 20th-century discourse on modernization and national education.