Definition

Noun: 1. The four seasons: Refers to the four distinct periods of the year: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. 2. The four noble plants: Refers to a quartet of plants symbolizing the four seasons in traditional Vietnamese and East Asian culture: the apricot blossom (spring), the orchid (summer), the chrysanthemum (autumn), and the bamboo (winter).

Usage Examples

• The concept of tứ quý is deeply embedded in Vietnamese art and philosophy.
• This painting beautifully depicts the tứ quý plants.
• The rhythm of tứ quý governs agricultural life.

Advanced Usage

• "Tranh tứ quý": A painting or artwork depicting the four seasons or the four noble plants. It is a common theme in traditional art, representing the cyclical nature of time and enduring virtues.
• The motif of tứ quý is often found in architecture, pottery, and literature, symbolizing completeness, harmony, and the virtuous qualities associated with each plant (e.g., resilience, purity, nobility, flexibility).

Variants and Related Words

• Bốn mùa: A more common and direct term for "the four seasons" (spring: , summer: , autumn: , winter: ).
• Tứ bình: Can refer to a set of four paintings, often depicting the four seasons or four plants/animals.

Synonyms

• Bốn mùa: Four seasons.
• Tứ thời: A literary term for the four time periods (seasons).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• While tứ quý itself is a term, it is central to the cultural idiom represented by the four plants: Mai, Lan, Cúc, Trúc. Together, they are a shorthand for elegance, resilience, and the ideal qualities of a scholar or virtuous person.

noun

1. four seasons