nhớ nước
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To miss one's homeland: A deep, nostalgic longing for one's native country or homeland, often experienced when living abroad or in exile. It conveys a profound emotional and patriotic attachment.
- To yearn for one's country: A sentimental and sometimes painful desire to return to or be in one's nation, encompassing its culture, landscapes, and people.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Ông cụ sống ở nước ngoài đã lâu nhưng lòng vẫn nhớ nước. (The old man has lived abroad for a long time, but his heart still misses his homeland.)
- Bài thơ này thể hiện tâm trạng nhớ nước của người lưu vong. (This poem expresses the homeland-yearning mood of an exile.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase "nhớ nước" is often used in literary, poetic, or formal contexts to describe a noble, patriotic sentiment. It is more profound than the general term for missing a place ("nhớ nhà" - to miss home).
Variants and Related Words
- Thương nhớ quê hương (verb phrase): to cherish and miss one's homeland. A synonym with similar emotional weight.
- Hoài hương (verb): to be nostalgic for one's native land. A more classical, literary term.
- Nỗi nhớ nước (noun phrase): the feeling of missing one's country.
Synonyms
- To be homesick (for one's country): The general feeling of missing home, which can be specified as missing one's nation.
- To have nostalgia for one's homeland: A sentimental longing for the homeland.
- To yearn for one's native land: To have a strong, persistent desire.
Related Idioms
- Nhớ nước thương nhà: A common paired idiom meaning "to miss the country and long for home." It encapsulates dual feelings of patriotism and personal homesickness.
- Trong những năm tháng xa quê, nỗi nhớ nước thương nhà luôn day dứt ông. (During the years away from home, the pain of missing his country and longing for his family always tormented him.)