cổ lai hi

Vietnamese

Alternate forms

  • cổ lai hy

Etymology

    Sino-Vietnamese word from 古, 來 and 稀, literally "to have been rare since olden times". Originating from 曲江二首 (“Two Poems on Qujiang”) written by 杜甫 (“Du Fu”) in 758 AD, specifically the phrase 人生七十古來稀 / 人生七十古来稀 (rénshēng qīshí gǔlái xī, “A lifespan of seventy has been rare since olden times”). Historically, the age of seventy was considered rare.[1][2]

    Pronunciation

    • (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [ko˧˩ laːj˧˧ hi˧˧]
    • (Huế) IPA(key): [kow˧˨ laːj˧˧ hɪj˧˧]
    • (Saigon) IPA(key): [kow˨˩˦ laːj˧˧ hɪj˧˧]

    Adjective

    cổ lai hi

    1. (of age) rare and longevous
      Cụ đã quá tuổi cổ lai hi.
      He has lived such a long life.

    References

    1. ^ Tìm Hiểu Xuất XỨ câu ‘Nhân Sinh Thất thập CỔ Lai Hy’ (no date b) Tìm hiểu xuất xứ câu ‘Nhân sinh thất thập cổ lai hy’ | THPT chuyên Sơn Tây. Available at: http://thptsontay.edu.vn/tan-van/tim-hieu-xuat-xu-cau-nhan-sinh-that-thap-co-lai-hy/ctmb/20408/12941 (Accessed: 10 December 2025).
    2. ^ Hồng Phượng (2024) Ý Nghĩa Câu Nói ‘Thất Thập cổ Lai Hy’ LÀ gì?, VOH. Available at: https://voh.com.vn/song-dep/that-thap-co-lai-hy-525506.html (Accessed: 10 December 2025).
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