tri tình
Definition
- Adjective:
- Understanding and sympathetic: Describes a person who possesses deep insight into another's situation or feelings and shows compassionate understanding based on that knowledge. This term carries a classical or literary nuance.
- Discerning of circumstances: Refers to the ability to clearly perceive and comprehend the true state of affairs or the specifics of a situation.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Ông ấy là một vị lãnh đạo rất tri tình. (He is a very understanding and sympathetic leader.)
- Người bạn tri tình sẽ không bao giờ trách móc bạn trong lúc khó khăn. (An understanding friend would never blame you in times of difficulty.)
- Cần có một cách nhìn tri tình về hoàn cảnh gia đình của cô ấy. (We need a discerning view of her family circumstances.)
Advanced Usage
- This word is considered somewhat formal or literary in modern Vietnamese. It is often used to describe an ideal quality in a leader, a judge, or a close friend—someone who makes fair and compassionate judgments because they fully grasp the context.
Variants and Related Words
- Thấu tình (adj): To be understanding and reasonable; often used in the phrase "thấu tình đạt lý" (to be reasonable and understanding).
- Phán quyết của tòa án phải thấu tình đạt lý. (The court's ruling must be both understanding and reasonable.)
Synonyms
- Understanding: Having insight into and sympathy for others' feelings.
- Discerning: Showing good judgment and perception.
- Compassionate: Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.
Related Idioms
- While "tri tình" itself is not typically part of a common idiom, its meaning is central to the classical ideal of "trên thông thiên văn, dưới tường địa lý, giữa tri tình đạt lý" (literally: above, knowing astronomy; below, knowing geography; in the middle, being understanding and reasonable), describing a person of profound wisdom and empathy.