Definition

1. Verb:
   • To join the army (archaic/formal): To enlist or follow an army into battle. This term is primarily used in historical or literary contexts to describe the act of becoming a soldier and going to war.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Nghe lời vua kêu gọi, nhiều thanh niên hăng hái tòng chinh. (Upon hearing the king's call, many young men eagerly joined the army.)
  • Câu chuyện kể về người phụ nữ cải trang nam giới để tòng chinh. (The story tells of a woman who disguised herself as a man to join the military campaign.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "tòng chinh" carries a classical and formal tone. In modern Vietnamese, more common terms like "nhập ngũ" (to enlist) or "đi lính" (to become a soldier) are used for the general concept of joining the military.

Variants and Related Words

• Tùng chinh (verb): An alternate, less common spelling with the same meaning as "tòng chinh."

Synonyms

• Enlist: To join the military.
• Join the army: To become a soldier.

Related Idioms

• While not a direct idiom, the concept is central to many historical narratives and folk songs (bài ca, truyện cổ) about soldiers leaving for war, often expressing themes of duty, separation, and sacrifice.