tri túc
Definition
- Verb (literary/classical):
- To know contentment / to be content with what one has: The core meaning of "tri túc" is the conscious state of knowing when one has enough and being satisfied with that, without desiring more. It describes a philosophical or ethical stance of moderation.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cổ nhân dạy phải biết tri túc. (The ancients taught that one must know contentment.)
- Sống một cuộc đời tri túc thì tâm mới an. (Living a life of contentment brings peace of mind.)
- "Nước lã cơm rau hãy tri túc" (Nguyễn Trãi). ("With plain water and vegetable rice, one should be content.")
Advanced Usage
- "Tri túc thường lạc": A classical proverb meaning "He who knows contentment is always happy." It encapsulates a key Taoist and Buddhist philosophy.
- Theo đạo lý "tri túc thường lạc", ham muốn ít đi thì hạnh phúc nhiều hơn. (According to the principle "contentment brings constant joy", fewer desires lead to greater happiness.)
Variants and Related Words
- Tri túc tri chỉ (idiomatic phrase): To know contentment and know when to stop. This compound phrase emphasizes both the state of contentment and the action of setting limits.
- Đạo đức kinh của Lão Tử nhấn mạnh đức tính tri túc tri chỉ. (Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching emphasizes the virtue of knowing contentment and knowing when to stop.)
Synonyms
- To be content: To be satisfied with what one has.
- To be satisfied: To feel that one's needs or desires are adequately met.
- To know when one has enough: An explanatory phrase capturing the essence.
Related Idioms
- Tri túc tiện túc, đãi túc hà thời túc: A classical saying meaning "To be content is to be happy now; to wait for perfect conditions means one will never be content." It highlights the immediacy of contentment as a choice.
- Câu "tri túc tiện túc" nhắc nhở chúng ta về hạnh phúc hiện tại. (The phrase "contentment is immediate sufficiency" reminds us of present happiness.)