khởi thuỷ
Definition
- 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.)