Definition

1. Verb:
   • To bear in mind / to hold as a conviction: To consistently keep a thought, principle, or belief in one's mind and heart, often as a guiding tenet or a solemn personal commitment.
   • To constantly remember and reflect upon: To think of something regularly, reminding oneself of it as a form of mental discipline or devotion.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Ông ấy luôn tâm niệm lời dạy của cha mẹ. (He always bears in mind the teachings of his parents.)
  • Tôi tâm niệm phải sống lương thiện. (I hold the conviction that one must live honestly.)
  • Cô ấy tâm niệm về lời hứa của mình mỗi ngày. (She constantly reflects upon her promise every day.)

Advanced Usage

• "tâm tâm niệm niệm": A reduplicated, emphatic form meaning to be deeply and single-mindedly preoccupied with a thought or ideal.
  • Anh ấy tâm tâm niệm niệm về mục tiêu du học. (He is deeply and constantly preoccupied with the goal of studying abroad.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ghi nhớ (v): to memorize, to remember.
• Khắc cốt ghi tâm (idiomatic phrase): to engrave in bone and inscribe in heart; to remember something forever.

Synonyms

• Cherish (a belief): To hold something dear in one's mind.
• Be mindful of: To be conscious or aware of something.
• Hold dear: To regard as deeply important.

Related Idioms

• Tâm nguyện: A heartfelt vow or aspiration, often with a spiritual connotation. While similar, "tâm nguyện" is more commonly a noun (a vow), whereas "tâm niệm" is the act of holding that vow in mind.
  • Lòng thành tâm nguyện của cô ấy cảm động mọi người. (The sincerity of her heartfelt vow moved everyone.)