tựu nghĩa

Definition

1. Verb (archaic):
   • To die a martyr for a righteous cause: To willingly sacrifice one's life out of loyalty to a just principle, a noble ideal, or a moral duty. The term carries a strong connotation of honor, sacrifice, and conscious choice in the face of death for a greater good.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Nhiều anh hùng dân tộc đã tựu nghĩa để bảo vệ tổ quốc. (Many national heroes died as martyrs to protect the fatherland.)
  • Ông ấy thà tựu nghĩa chứ không chịu đầu hàng kẻ thù. (He would rather die for righteousness than surrender to the enemy.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "tựu nghĩa" is primarily found in historical, literary, or formal contexts, often referring to the deaths of scholars, soldiers, or revolutionaries who upheld Confucian or patriotic ideals. It is not used in modern, everyday conversation.

Variants and Related Words

• Tuẫn tiết (v): To commit suicide to preserve one's honor or fidelity, often used specifically for women in a historical context, but also broadly for dying for a principle.
• Hy sinh (v): To sacrifice. This is the modern, general term for sacrifice, which can be used for both life and lesser sacrifices, and lacks the specific archaic and moral nuance of "tựu nghĩa."

Synonyms

• To die a martyr's death: To be killed for adhering to a belief or cause.
• To perish for a cause: To die in support of a particular principle or movement.
• To meet one's end for righteousness: A formal phrase meaning to die for what is morally right.

Related Idioms

• "Chết vì nghĩa": This is a more common, proverbial phrase with the same core meaning as "tựu nghĩa" – to die for a righteous cause. It serves as a direct, explanatory equivalent.
  • "Chết vì nghĩa còn hơn sống đê hèn." (To die for righteousness is better than to live in disgrace.)