tình đầu
Definition
Noun:
- First love: The first person one falls in love with in one's life, or the emotional experience of that initial romantic love. It carries connotations of innocence, intensity, and often nostalgia.
Noun (extended usage):
- The beginning or origin of a situation: Used to refer to the initial circumstances, causes, or full details of an event or matter. This usage is more formal and less common than the primary meaning.
Usage Examples
Noun (First love):
- Cô ấy là tình đầu của tôi. (She is my first love.)
- Anh ấy vẫn nhớ mãi mối tình đầu. (He still remembers his first love forever.)
Noun (Origin of a situation):
- Chúng tôi cần tìm hiểu cho ra tình đầu sự việc. (We need to investigate to understand the full details of the matter.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used in literary, poetic, or nostalgic contexts when referring to romantic love.
- In the formal usage regarding situations, it is frequently found in the fixed phrase "tình đầu sự việc" (the ins and outs of the matter).
Variants and Related Words
- Mối tình đầu (n): This is a more complete and common form meaning "first love." The words "mối tình" specifically mean "a romantic relationship."
- Mối tình đầu thường khó quên. (A first love is often hard to forget.)
Synonyms
- First love: The primary romantic synonym.
- Initial love: A more formal alternative.
- Origin / root cause: For the formal usage regarding situations.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Tình đầu sự việc: A set phrase meaning "the whole story," "the ins and outs," or "the beginning and end" of an affair or situation.
- Phóng viên phải nắm được tình đầu sự việc. (The reporter must grasp the full story of the event.)