tinh khí
Definition
- Noun:
- Semen; Sperm: The male reproductive fluid containing spermatozoa. This is the primary and most specific biological meaning.
- Vital Essence; Vigor: In traditional and figurative contexts, it refers to a person's vital energy, life force, or spirit, often associated with masculinity, vitality, and strength.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Biological):
- Tinh khí của nam giới chứa tinh trùng. (The semen of men contains sperm.)
- Noun (Figurative):
- Sau trận ốm, anh ấy dường như mất hết tinh khí. (After the illness, he seemed to have lost all his vitality.)
- Bài diễn văn đầy tinh khí của ông ấy đã truyền cảm hứng cho mọi người. (His speech, full of spirit, inspired everyone.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in classical or literary contexts rather than in everyday clinical speech. In modern medical Vietnamese, "tinh dịch" is the more common and neutral term for semen.
- The figurative meaning connects to traditional concepts of health and energy, where "tinh khí" is seen as a fundamental component of one's physical and mental power.
Variants and Related Words
- Tinh dịch (n): Semen. This is the standard, direct synonym in biological and medical contexts.
- Tinh trùng (n): Sperm; Spermatozoa. Refers specifically to the male reproductive cells within the semen.
- Sinh lực (n): Vitality, life force. A close synonym for the figurative sense of vigor and energy.
Synonyms
- Semen (for the biological meaning).
- Vitality, Vigor, Spirit, Essence (for the figurative meaning).
Related Concepts
- Hào khí: Martial spirit, mettle. Often used to describe the brave and determined spirit of a group or individual, sometimes overlapping with the energetic sense of "tinh khí".
- Nguyên khí: Original life force; vitality. A deeper, more fundamental concept of innate energy in traditional thought.