Definition

1. Noun:
   • Karmic cause from a previous existence: In Buddhist philosophy, "tiền căn" refers to the actions, deeds, or causes created in a past life that influence one's current life and circumstances.
   • Former cause / antecedent cause: More broadly, it can denote a prior cause or root from the past that leads to a present effect or consequence.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Theo Phật giáo, khổ đau hiện tại có thể do tiền căn từ kiếp trước. (According to Buddhism, present suffering may be due to karmic causes from a past life.)
  • Mọi sự trên đời đều có tiền căn hậu quả. (Everything in the world has a cause and an effect.)

Advanced Usage

• "tiền căn hậu quả": This is a fixed phrase meaning "cause and effect," specifically emphasizing the chain of past causes leading to future results, often with a karmic or moral implication.
  • Câu chuyện ấy là một minh họa rõ ràng cho luật tiền căn hậu quả. (That story is a clear illustration of the law of cause and effect.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhân quả (n): karma, cause and effect. This is a more common general term for the principle of causation.
  • Luật nhân quả là một giáo lý cốt lõi. (The law of karma is a core doctrine.)

Synonyms

• Karmic cause: A cause arising from past actions, determining future conditions.
• Antecedent: A thing that existed before or logically precedes another.
• Root cause: The fundamental basis or origin.

Related Idioms

• Tiền căn bất chính: Literally "an improper former cause," implying a flawed or negative root from the past that leads to bad outcomes.
  • Những rắc rối của họ bắt nguồn từ một tiền căn bất chính. (Their troubles stem from an improper root cause.)