tề gia
Definition
- Verb (archaic):
- To manage a household well; to put one's family affairs in order: This term refers to the act of arranging and governing family matters in a proper, harmonious, and stable manner. It implies establishing order and discipline within the home.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Người xưa coi việc tề gia là bước đầu tiên quan trọng. (The ancients considered managing the household well to be the first important step.)
- Muốn trị quốc thì trước hết phải biết tề gia. (To govern a state, one must first know how to manage one's family.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is primarily found in classical or literary contexts, especially when discussing Confucian principles of self-cultivation, family management, and state governance. It is a component of the sequence: tu thân (cultivate oneself), tề gia (manage the family), trị quốc (govern the state), bình thiên hạ (bring peace to the world).
Variants and Related Words
- Tề gia trị quốc (idiomatic phrase): To manage the household and govern the state; often used to describe the classical philosophy of governance starting from the family unit.
Synonyms
- To manage a household: To administer the affairs of a family.
- To regulate family affairs: To bring order to domestic matters.
Related Idioms
- Tu thân, tề gia, trị quốc, bình thiên hạ: To cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world. This is a core Confucian dictum outlining the steps for a virtuous life and leadership.
- Theo Nho giáo, con đường của người quân tử bắt đầu từ tu thân, tề gia. (According to Confucianism, the path of the noble man begins with self-cultivation and managing the household.)