Definition

1. Verb:
   • To ascend to heaven: The primary meaning of "thăng thiên" is to rise or be elevated to the celestial realm. It is a formal and literary term, most commonly associated with deities, mythological figures, or spirits making a journey to heaven.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Theo truyền thuyết, vị thần đó đã thăng thiên sau khi hoàn thành sứ mệnh. (According to legend, that deity ascended to heaven after completing his mission.)
  • Ngày 23 tháng Chạp âm lịch là ngày ông Táo thăng thiên. (The 23rd day of the last lunar month is the day the Kitchen God ascends to heaven.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used in religious, mythological, or formal literary contexts. It is not used for the physical act of flying or for modern concepts like space travel.

Variants and Related Words

• Bay lên trời (v): to fly up to the sky (a more general and common phrase).
• Lên trời (v): to go up to the sky/heaven (a neutral and common phrase).

Synonyms

• Ascend to heaven: The direct equivalent.
• Be assumed into heaven: Used in specific religious contexts (e.g., the Assumption of Mary).

Related Idioms

• Ông Táo thăng thiên: Refers to the Vietnamese tradition where the Kitchen God (Ông Táo) returns to heaven on the 23rd of the last lunar month to report on the household's affairs to the Jade Emperor.

verb

1. to ascend heaven