tích đức
Definition
- Verb (archaic/literary):
- To accumulate virtue or moral merit: The core meaning refers to the conscious and sustained practice of good deeds, moral behavior, and kindness throughout one's life, with the belief that these acts build up spiritual merit or positive karma for oneself and one's descendants.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Ông bà ta thường dạy phải biết tích đức. (Our ancestors often taught that we must know how to accumulate virtue.)
- Cả đời tích đức, ắt sẽ có phúc. (A whole life of accumulating virtue will surely bring blessings.)
- Cụ ấy tích đức nhiều nên con cháu đều thành đạt. (He accumulated much virtue, so all his children and grandchildren are successful.)
Advanced Usage
- The concept is deeply rooted in traditional East Asian philosophy, Buddhism, and folk belief. It implies that moral actions are a form of spiritual capital that can affect one's fate and legacy.
- It is often used in the context of familial responsibility, suggesting that parents' accumulated virtue brings happiness and success to their offspring.
Variants and Related Words
Ăn ở có đức (idiomatic phrase): To live a virtuous life; to behave morally.
- Bà ấy cả đời ăn ở có đức. (She lived a virtuous life.)
Đức độ (n): Virtue and kindness.
- Ông ấy là người đức độ. (He is a virtuous and kind person.)
Synonyms
- To cultivate virtue: To develop moral goodness through effort.
- To store up merit: To accumulate good spiritual credit (common in Buddhist context).
- To do good deeds: To perform acts of kindness and morality.
Related Idioms and Proverbs
Đức năng thắng số: Virtue can overcome fate. Suggests that accumulated good deeds can change one's destined misfortune.
- Hãy tin rằng đức năng thắng số. (Believe that virtue can overcome fate.)
Một đời tích đức, vạn đời hưởng phúc: One life of accumulating virtue brings blessings for ten thousand generations. Emphasizes the lasting legacy of virtue.
- Cổ nhân nói "một đời tích đức, vạn đời hưởng phúc". (The ancients said, "One life of virtue brings blessings for myriad generations.")