thông giám
Definition
- Noun (Historical):
- A comprehensive mirror or model: A figurative term for something that serves as a universal example or standard for all to follow and learn from.
- A general history or comprehensive chronicle: Refers to a historical record that provides a broad, overarching view of events, serving as a reference for understanding the past.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Bộ sử ấy được coi là một thông giám của thời đại. (That historical text is considered a comprehensive chronicle of the era.)
- Tấm gương đạo đức của ông ấy là một thông giám cho mọi người. (His moral character is a model for everyone.)
Advanced Usage
- This is an archaic literary term. In modern Vietnamese, it is rarely used in everyday conversation and is primarily found in classical texts, historical discourse, or scholarly writing.
Variants and Related Words
- Thông sứ (cũ) (n, archaic): An envoy or ambassador; an older, related term sometimes referenced in historical definitions.
Synonyms
- Model: A standard or example for imitation or comparison.
- Exemplar: A person or thing serving as a typical example or excellent model.
- Chronicle: A factual written account of important or historical events in the order of their occurrence.
- Compendium: A collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject.
Notes on Meaning
- The core idea of "thông giám" combines thông (through, general, comprehensive) and giám (mirror, to reflect upon). It is therefore a "mirror for general reflection," implying a work or example that allows for broad understanding and judgment.
- The second historical definition relating to "thông sứ" (envoy) is considered obsolete and is not the primary meaning found in most references. The primary meanings relate to being a model or a comprehensive history.