sân lai sáu kỷ

Definition
  1. Noun (Proper Noun / Literary Term):
    • The Lai's Courtyard and the Six Trestle-Beds: A classical Vietnamese literary allusion referring to the story of Old Man Lai, who, despite being 72 years old while his parents were still alive, would dress in colorful children's clothes, carry water, and pretend to stumble and fall to amuse them and make them forget their old age. It symbolizes the utmost filial piety and the act of bringing joy to one's elderly parents.
    • A metaphor for diligent, long-term study and cultivation: Often paired with the phrase "song huỳnh mười thu" (two yellowed scrolls, ten autumns), the term can extend to represent a decade or more of devoted scholarly effort and self-cultivation.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • Tấm gương hiếu thảo "sân lai sáu kỷ" được người đời truyền tụng. (The filial piety model of "sân lai sáu kỷ" has been praised through the ages.)
    • Công phu "sân lai sáu kỷ, song huỳnh mười thu" là nền tảng của bậc trí giả. (The devotion of "sân lai sáu kỷ, song huỳnh mười thu" is the foundation of a wise person.)
Advanced Usage
  • The term is almost exclusively used in classical, literary, or highly formal contexts to discuss Confucian virtues, particularly filial piety () and scholarly dedication. It is a fixed cultural reference.
Variants and Related Words
  • Lão Lai (n): Old Man Lai, the central figure of the allusion.
  • Hiếu thảo (n): Filial piety, the primary virtue illustrated by the story.
  • Song huỳnh mười thu (n): A parallel literary phrase meaning "two yellowed scrolls, ten autumns," symbolizing long years of diligent study.
Synonyms
  • Filial devotion: The act of showing great love and respect for one's parents.
  • Scholarly perseverance: Long-term, dedicated effort in study and cultivation.
Related Idioms/Allusions
  • Lão Lai ban y (Old Man Lai in children's clothes): Directly refers to the act of dressing playfully to please one's parents.
  • Làm vui lòng cha mẹ (To bring joy to one's parents): The core meaning derived from the story of "sân lai sáu kỷ."