tinh
Definition
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.
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.
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.)