Definition

Noun: 1. Miasma / Noxious Air: In traditional Eastern medicine and belief, "tà khí" refers to harmful or pathogenic air, vapors, or environmental influences that are thought to invade the body and cause illness or disease. 2. Pernicious Atmosphere / Unhealthy Influence: Figuratively, it describes a corrupting, unhealthy, or morally negative atmosphere, trend, or ideological influence within a society or group.

Usage Examples

• (According to traditional medicine, cold wind can carry into the body.)
• (We must guard against from foreign cultures.)

Advanced Usage

• The concept is deeply rooted in East Asian philosophical and medical systems (like Traditional Vietnamese Medicine), where health is seen as a balance between righteous energy ("chính khí") and pathogenic factors ("tà khí").
• In modern secular usage, it is often employed in political or social commentary to criticize ideologies or trends deemed harmful to social morals or unity.

Variants and Related Words

• Hàn tà (n): A type of "tà khí" specifically related to cold pathogens.
• Phong tà (n): A type of "tà khí" specifically related to wind pathogens.
• Chính khí (n): Righteous or vital energy; the antonym of "tà khí."

Synonyms

• Miasma
• Pathogenic factor
• Noxious influence
• Pernicious atmosphere

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Xua đuổi tà khí: To ward off or dispel evil/unhealthy influences.
  • Người ta đốt phong long để xua đuổi tà khí. (People burn "phong long" to ward off evil influences.)
• Tà khí xâm nhập: The invasion/infiltration of pathogenic factors.
  • Cơ thể suy yếu khiến tà khí dễ xâm nhập. (A weakened body makes it easy for pathogenic factors to invade.)

noun

1. miasma