Definition

Noun: - The four (material) pleasures: A colloquial and somewhat vulgar term referring to the four fundamental physical pleasures of human life, according to folk conception. These are specifically: eating, sleeping, sexual relations, and defecation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Theo quan niệm dân gian, "tứ khoái" bao gồm ăn, ngủ, làm tình và đại tiện. (According to folk belief, the "four pleasures" include eating, sleeping, sexual relations, and defecation.)
  • Anh ta chỉ lo đến "tứ khoái" mà thôi. (He only cares about the "four pleasures".)

Advanced Usage

• The term is rooted in a pragmatic, materialistic view of human happiness and is often used with a tone of irony, criticism, or earthy humor. It reduces human existence to basic animalistic functions.
• It is considered informal and vulgar due to the explicit inclusion of bodily functions. It is not used in formal or polite contexts.

Word Origin and Notes

• Origin: From Sino-Vietnamese: "tứ" (四 - four) and "khoái" (快 - pleasure, delight). The concept parallels other "four" sets in Eastern philosophy (like "tứ đức" - four virtues) but applies them to base physical instincts.
• Register: Colloquial, vulgar. It is a slang term.

Related Concepts

• Tứ đức: The four virtues (for women in Confucian thought: công, dung, ngôn, hạnh - work, appearance, speech, morality). This is a formal, virtuous concept, in direct contrast to the base materialism of "tứ khoái".
• Vật chất: Material/physical things. "Tứ khoái" is the epitome of materialistic pleasure.

noun

1. four pleasures