tông chỉ
Definition
- Noun:
- Ancestral branch or lineage: Refers to a specific branch or line of descent within a larger family or clan, often used in historical or genealogical contexts.
- Fundamental principle or tenet: Denotes a core guiding doctrine, principle, or creed, especially of a school of thought, religion, or organization.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Lineage):
- Gia phả ghi chép đầy đủ các tông chỉ của dòng họ. (The genealogy records all the branches of the family lineage.)
- Noun (Principle):
- Tông chỉ của tổ chức là nhân đạo và hòa bình. (The organization's fundamental tenet is humanitarianism and peace.)
Advanced Usage
- The word is considered literary and is more commonly found in formal, historical, or religious texts rather than in everyday conversation.
Variants and Related Words
- Tông (n): Can mean ancestral line, sect, or school (e.g., Phật giáo Nam tông - Theravada Buddhism).
- Chỉ (n): Can mean aim, purpose, or intention.
Synonyms
- Lineage: lineal descent from an ancestor.
- Tenet: a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy.
- Doctrine: a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a group.
Related Idioms
- While not a common idiom itself, the concept is central to phrases about heritage and creed, such as "giữ vững tông chỉ" (to uphold the core principles).