Definition

1. Noun:
   • Heart and mind; innermost thoughts and feelings: Refers to the combined center of one's emotions, thoughts, and deepest consciousness. It implies a profound, sincere, and private inner world.
   • Bosom friend; confidant: A person who is deeply trusted and understands one's innermost thoughts and feelings.

Usage Examples

• Noun (inner self):

  • Anh ấy giữ nỗi buồn trong thâm tâm. (He keeps the sadness deep in his heart and mind.)
  • Cô ấy hiểu rõ tâm tri của tôi. (She understands my innermost thoughts.)

• Noun (confidant):

  • Bà ấy là người bạn tâm tri của tôi. (She is my bosom friend.)
  • Họ là những tâm tri, chia sẻ mọi điều với nhau. (They are confidants, sharing everything with each other.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is literary and conveys depth, often used in poetic, philosophical, or deeply personal contexts rather than everyday conversation.
• It can describe a state of deep reflection or introspection: (to live with one's own heart and mind).

Variants and Related Words

• Tâm tư (n): Thoughts and feelings; state of mind. (More common than ).
  • Anh ấy không biết giãi bày tâm tư. (He doesn't know how to express his thoughts and feelings.)
• Tri kỷ (n): Soulmate; kindred spirit. (Emphasizes deep mutual understanding).
  • Tìm được một tri kỷ thật khó. (Finding a soulmate is truly difficult.)

Synonyms

• Inner self: One's true, private feelings and thoughts.
• Bosom friend: A very close, trusted friend.
• Confidant: A person with whom one shares secrets or private matters.

Related Idioms

• Bạn tâm tri: A heart-to-heart friend; a confidant.
  • Cô ấy không chỉ là đồng nghiệp, mà còn là bạn tâm tri. (She is not just a colleague, but also a heart-to-heart friend.)
• Thổ lộ tâm tri: To confide one's deepest feelings.
  • Anh ấy cần một người để thổ lộ tâm tri. (He needs someone to confide his deepest feelings to.)