Definition

1. Noun:
   • Proverb; adage: A short, traditional saying that expresses a common truth, piece of wisdom, or practical advice, often passed down through generations.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • "Ngạn ngữ có câu: 'Có công mài sắt, có ngày nên kim.'" ("There is a proverb: 'With perseverance, you can achieve anything.'" (Literally: 'With effort to grind iron, one day it becomes a needle.'))
  • "Ông tôi thường dạy chúng tôi qua những câu ngạn ngữ." ("My grandfather often taught us through proverbs.")
  • "Đó là một câu ngạn ngữ rất phổ biến ở Việt Nam." ("That is a very common proverb in Vietnam.")

Advanced Usage

• "Câu ngạn ngữ ấy vẫn còn nguyên giá trị.": That proverb still holds its full value/truth.
• "Anh ấy trích dẫn một câu ngạn ngữ để minh họa cho quan điểm của mình.": He quoted a proverb to illustrate his point.

Variants and Related Words

• Tục ngữ (noun): Another common Vietnamese term for "proverb" or "folk saying," often used interchangeably with , though some distinguish as more folk-based and as potentially more literary or ancient.
• Châm ngôn (noun): Maxim, motto, aphorism. A concise saying expressing a general truth or rule of conduct, often more formal or personal than a proverb.
• Thành ngữ (noun): Idiom. A fixed phrase whose meaning is not deducible from the individual words (e.g., - "wet foot dry foot," meaning to be new or inexperienced).

Synonyms

• Danh ngôn (noun): Famous saying, quotation (often from a known historical or literary figure).
• Cách ngôn (noun): Aphorism, maxim.

Related Phrases

• "Theo ngạn ngữ": According to the proverb...
  • "Theo ngạn ngữ, 'Đi một ngày đàng, học một sàng khôn.'" ("According to the proverb, 'Travel broadens the mind.'" (Literally: 'Go for a day's journey, learn a basketful of wisdom.'))

Related Idioms

(Note: The word *ngạn ngữ itself is a category of saying, not typically used within a larger idiomatic structure. The idioms are the proverbs themselves.)* - "Ngạn ngữ phương Tây/Trung Hoa": Western/Chinese proverbs. - "Ngạn ngữ phương Tây có câu 'Better late than never.'" ("The Western proverb says 'Better late than never.'")

noun

1. proverb; adage