Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Worldly-wise; shrewd; astute: Having deep, practical understanding and keen insight into the ways of the world, human nature, and complex situations. It implies a sharpness gained from experience.
   • Discerning; perceptive: Possessing the ability to judge and understand people and things clearly and intelligently.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ông ấy rất tinh đời, khó có thể lừa được. (He is very worldly-wise; it's hard to deceive him.)
  • Lời nhận xét đó chứng tỏ cô ấy thật sự tinh đời. (That remark proves she is truly perceptive.)
  • Người bán hàng tinh đời nhận ra khách muốn gì ngay lập tức. (The shrewd seller recognized what the customer wanted immediately.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often carries a tone of admiration for someone's practical intelligence and sharp judgment in social or commercial matters. It can sometimes imply a slightly cunning or street-smart quality.

Variants and Related Words

• Tinh (adj): sharp, acute, refined (e.g., - sharp-eyed, - perceptive).
• Đời (n): life, the world.
• Sành sỏi (adj): experienced and knowledgeable, especially in a specific field (e.g., art, food).

Synonyms

• Shrewd: having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute.
• Astute: having an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage.
• Perspicacious: having a ready insight into and understanding of things.
• Savvy: shrewd and knowledgeable in the realities of life.

Related Idioms

• Con mắt tinh đời: a discerning/sharp eye.
  • Nhờ con mắt tinh đời, ông ấy luôn tìm được những món đồ quý. (Thanks to his discerning eye, he always finds valuable items.)
• Sống cho tinh đời: to live in a shrewd, aware manner.
  • Trong xã hội đó, bạn phải sống cho tinh đời. (In that society, you have to live shrewdly.)