tu nhân
Definition
- Verb (archaic):
- To cultivate one's character / to cultivate virtue: The primary meaning of "tu nhân" refers to the conscious effort to improve one's moral character and ethical behavior through self-discipline and learning. It is a core concept in Confucian philosophy, emphasizing personal moral development as the foundation for a harmonious society.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cổ nhân dạy rằng muốn trị quốc trước hết phải tu nhân. (The ancients taught that to govern a state, one must first cultivate one's character.)
- Ông ấy sống một cuộc đời tu nhân tích đức. (He lived a life of cultivating virtue and accumulating good deeds.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used in fixed, proverbial expressions, often paired with other classical virtues. It is considered literary and archaic in modern Vietnamese.
- "tu nhân tích đức": This is the most common collocation, meaning "to cultivate one's character and accumulate virtuous deeds." It presents moral development as a lifelong process of both inner refinement and outward moral action.
Variants and Related Words
- Tu thân (v): A nearly synonymous and more commonly used term in classical texts, also meaning "to cultivate oneself" or "to improve one's person." It is a key phrase from "The Great Learning" (Đại Học).
- Tu thân, tề gia, trị quốc, bình thiên hạ. (Cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, bring peace to the world.)
Synonyms
- To cultivate oneself: To develop one's mind or character through education and discipline.
- To practice virtue: To actively engage in morally good behavior.
- To refine one's character: To improve and polish one's moral qualities.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Tu nhân tích đức: To cultivate one's character and accumulate virtue/good deeds. This is the standard, complete phrase in which "tu nhân" appears.
- Phúc đức tại mẫu, nhưng mỗi người cũng phải tự tu nhân tích đức. (Blessings come from the mother, but each person must also cultivate character and accumulate virtue themselves.)