sự đời
Definition
- Noun:
- The ways of the world; worldly affairs; life's realities: Refers to the complex, often harsh or cynical, practical experiences and social realities of human life and society. It implies an understanding gained through lived experience, sometimes with a sense of resignation or disillusionment.
- The nature of life; how life is: Denotes the intrinsic character, conditions, and typical events that constitute human existence.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Anh ấy đã trải qua nhiều sự đời nên rất thực tế. (He has experienced many ways of the world, so he is very practical.)
- Câu chuyện đó phản ánh đúng sự đời. (That story accurately reflects life's realities.)
- Biết thế mới gọi là sự đời. (That's just how life is.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used in a philosophical, reflective, or sometimes cynical tone to comment on the state of human affairs, injustice, or the gap between ideals and reality.
- Nói về sự đời, có lúc vui, có lúc buồn. (Speaking of the nature of life, there are times of joy and times of sorrow.)
Variants and Related Words
Đời (n): life, the world. A shorter, more general form.
- Đời không phải lúc nào cũng công bằng. (Life is not always fair.)
Chuyện đời (n): life's stories; the affairs/tales of life. Often refers to specific narratives or incidents.
- Quán cà phê là nơi nghe đủ thứ chuyện đời. (The coffee shop is a place to hear all kinds of life's stories.)
Synonyms
- Worldly affairs: Matters concerning the material world and society.
- The ways of the world: The customary practices and realities of human society.
- Life's realities: The actual, sometimes harsh, truths of existence.
Related Idioms and Expressions
Trải *sự đời*: to be worldly-wise; to have experienced life.
- Ông ấy đã trải sự đời nên khó bị lừa. (He is worldly-wise and hard to fool.)
Biết *sự đời*: to know how the world works; to be street-smart.
- Cô bé thành phố ấy biết sự đời lắm. (That city girl really knows how the world works.)