thiên lí mã
Definition
- Noun:
- Thousand-league horse: A legendary horse from Chinese and Vietnamese folklore, famed for its ability to travel a thousand li (a traditional unit of distance) in a single day. It symbolizes exceptional speed, endurance, and invaluable service.
- Paragon; exceptional talent: By extension, the term is used metaphorically to describe a person of extraordinary ability or talent, especially one who makes significant contributions over a great distance or in a wide field.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Trong truyền thuyết, Tào Tháo có một con thiên lí mã. (In legend, Cao Cao possessed a thousand-league horse.)
- Nhà khoa học đó là một thiên lí mã của ngành nghiên cứu. (That scientist is a paragon of the research field.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in literary, historical, or highly formal contexts to evoke a sense of legendary excellence and reliability.
Variants and Related Words
- Ngựa chiến (n): warhorse. A horse used in battle.
- Ngựa quý (n): a prized/valuable horse.
- Nhân tài (n): talent, genius. A more common, non-metaphorical term for a talented person.
Synonyms
- Steed: A high-spirited horse, especially for riding.
- Courser (archaic/poetic): A swift or spirited horse.
- Paragon: A model of excellence or perfection.
Related Idioms
- While "thiên lí mã" itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, it embodies the concept found in expressions like:
- Tài cao đức trọng: Of great talent and high virtue. This describes the ideal person, similar to the metaphorical use of "thiên lí mã."