tướng thuật

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Physiognomy; the art of face reading: A traditional practice of assessing a person's character, personality, or future fate based on the facial features, bone structure, and overall appearance.
   • The art of judging by appearance: More broadly, it can refer to the study or technique of evaluating a person's destiny or traits through their physical form, including but not limited to the face.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông cụ nghiên cứu tướng thuật nhiều năm. (The old man studied physiognomy for many years.)
  • Tướng thuật có thể dự đoán tính cách qua khuôn mặt. (Physiognomy can predict personality through the face.)
  • Anh ta tin vào tướng thuật. (He believes in the art of face reading.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often associated with traditional East Asian divination and metaphysical arts. It is considered a form of mệnh lý (destiny studies) alongside other practices like tử vi (astrology) and bốc phệ (divination).

Variants and Related Words

• Xem tướng (v): to read someone's face/physiognomy; to practice face reading.

  • Thầy phong thủy đang xem tướng cho khách. (The feng shui master is reading the client's physiognomy.)

• Nhân tướng học (n): a more modern or academic term for physiognomy.

  • Nhân tướng học là một môn khoa học cổ xưa. (Physiognomy is an ancient science.)

Synonyms

• Physiognomy: The practice of judging character from facial features.
• Face reading: A direct, descriptive synonym for the practice.
• Personology: A less common term for character analysis based on appearance.

Related Concepts

• Tướng mạo (n): appearance, looks, countenance (refers to the physical appearance itself, not the art of reading it).

  • Tướng mạo của anh ấy rất phúc hậu. (His countenance is very benevolent.)

• Chỉ tay (n): palmistry; the art of reading palms (a related divinatory art focusing on hands rather than the face).