Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Wise; sagacious: Possessing or showing good judgment, deep understanding, and the ability to make sound decisions, often based on experience and careful thought.
   • Prudent; shrewd: Showing care and foresight in practical matters, especially in managing one's actions and interactions to avoid problems or to achieve a desired outcome.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ông ấy là một nhà lãnh đạo rất khôn ngoan. (He is a very wise leader.)
  • Cô ấy đã đưa ra một quyết định khôn ngoan. (She made a prudent decision.)
  • Hãy khôn ngoan trong cách tiêu tiền. (Be shrewd in how you spend money.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a combination of intelligence, experience, and practical sense, not just theoretical knowledge. It can describe a person's character or a specific action or choice.
• "Tỏ ra khôn ngoan": to act wisely, to show wisdom.
  • Trong tình huống đó, cậu ấy đã tỏ ra khôn ngoan. (In that situation, he acted wisely.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khôn (adj): smart, clever, sharp (often more focused on innate quickness or intelligence).
  • Đứa trẻ này rất khôn. (This child is very clever.)
• Khôn khéo (adj): tactful, diplomatic, skillful in handling situations delicately.
  • Cô ấy từ chối một cách khôn khéo. (She refused tactfully.)

Synonyms

• Wise: Having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
• Prudent: Acting with or showing care for the future.
• Sagacious: Having keen mental discernment and judgment.
• Shrewd: Having or showing sharp powers of judgment, especially in practical matters.
• Judicious: Having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense.

Related Idioms

• Khôn ngoan chẳng lọ thật thà: Literally "Wisdom is not necessarily about being honest"; suggests that being clever or shrewd is sometimes valued over simple honesty in practical affairs.
• Khôn ngoan đá đáp người ngoài, gà cùng một mẹ chớ hoài đá nhau (proverb): A call to direct one's cleverness or shrewdness outward (to outsiders) and to maintain harmony within one's own family or group.

adj

1. wise