Definition

1. Noun:
   • World affairs; the ways of the world: Refers to the general state, events, and complex matters of human society and life. It conveys a sense of broad, often philosophical contemplation about worldly matters and human conditions.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Các cụ già ngồi uống trà, bàn chuyện thế sự. (The elders sat drinking tea, discussing world affairs.)
  • Ông ấy có cái nhìn sâu sắc về thế sự. (He has a profound perspective on the ways of the world.)
  • Thơ của ông thường mang nỗi buồn thế sự. (His poetry often carries a melancholy of worldly matters.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "thế sự" often carries a classical, somewhat literary tone. It is used to describe a contemplative or even cynical understanding of the changing, unpredictable nature of human society and life's vicissitudes.
• It can function attributively in compound structures to describe a style or mood, e.g., "buồn thế sự" (world-weary), "thơ thế sự" (poetry about worldly affairs).

Variants and Related Words

• Thế thái nhân tình (idiomatic phrase): The ways of the world and human feelings; refers to the complexities and often fickle nature of social relationships and societal attitudes.
  • Anh ta đã nếm trải đủ thế thái nhân tình. (He has experienced all the vicissitudes of human relationships and the world.)

Synonyms

• Worldly affairs: Matters concerning the world and society.
• The ways of the world: The customary practices and behaviors of human society.
• Human affairs: The events and activities of human life.

Related Idioms

• "Thế sự đa đoan": The affairs of the world are manifold and troubled.
  • Biết rằng thế sự đa đoan, nhưng ta vẫn phải sống lạc quan. (Knowing that the world's affairs are troubled, we must still live optimistically.)

noun

1. world affairs