Definition

1. Noun:

   • Spirit / Goblin / Demon: A supernatural being, often malevolent, in Vietnamese folklore.
   • Essence / Essential Principle: The most concentrated, pure, or fundamental part of something.
   • Semen / Sperm: The male reproductive fluid (shortened form of "tinh dịch" or "tinh khí").
   • Banner / Standard (archaic): A flag or ensign, especially used in a military context in ancient times.
   • The green layer: The smooth, greenish skin or bark on bamboo or rattan stems.

2. Adjective:

   • Skilled / Proficient / Masterful: Having a high degree of skill or expertise in a particular area.
   • Sharp / Keen / Perceptive: Having quick and acute senses or understanding.
   • Mischievous / Naughty (colloquial, short for "tinh quái"): Behaving in a playful but annoying way.

3. Adverb:

   • Completely / Purely / Wholly: Used to emphasize that something is entirely in a certain state.
   • Exclusively / Solely: Indicating that something consists of only one thing.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Trong truyện cổ, con tinh thường ẩn trong rừng sâu. (In folktales, the demon often hides in the deep forest.)
  • Công việc này đòi hỏi phải nắm được cái tinh của vấn đề. (This job requires grasping the essence of the problem.)
  • Bóng tinh rợp trời. (The banners covered the sky [archaic poetic].)

• Adjective:

  • Anh ấy là một thợ mộc rất tinh. (He is a very skilled carpenter.)
  • Cô bé có đôi mắt nhìn rất tinh. (The little girl has very sharp/keen eyes.)

• Adverb:

  • Căn phòng được sơn trắng tinh. (The room is painted completely white.)
  • Bữa ăn chỉ có tinh gạo. (The meal consists exclusively of rice.)

Advanced Usage

• "tinh nhanh": quick-witted, sharp.

  • Đứa trẻ tỏ ra rất tinh nhanh trong học tập. (The child shows himself to be very quick-witted in his studies.)

• "tinh khiết": pure, pristine.

  • Nước suối ở đây rất tinh khiết. (The stream water here is very pure.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tinh dịch / Tinh khí (n): semen, sperm.
• Tinh tế (adj): refined, subtle, sophisticated.
• Tinh túy (n): the quintessence, the finest part.
• Tinh ý (adj): perceptive, tactful.
• Tinh ranh (adj): cunning, sly (often for children).

Synonyms

• Spirit: demon, goblin, apparition.
• Essence: core, quintessence, gist.
• Skilled: proficient, adept, expert.
• Sharp: keen, acute, perceptive.
• Completely: utterly, purely, wholly.

Related Idioms

• Nhất nghệ tinh, nhất thân vinh: (Proverb) Master one craft, and you will prosper. / A skilled trade is a secure fortune.
• Cầm tinh: to be born under the zodiac sign of (an animal).
  • Anh ấy cầm tinh con rồng. (He was born in the Year of the Dragon.)