tứ nghệ

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 四藝, composed of 四 (“four”) and 藝 (“ability, skill”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [tɨ˧˦ ŋe˧˨ʔ]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [tɨ˨˩˦ ŋej˨˩ʔ]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [tɨ˦˥ ŋej˨˩˨]

• Audio (Hà Nội):

  (file)

Noun

tứ nghệ

1. the Four Arts which were the four main academic and artistic talents required of the aristocratic ancient Chinese scholar-gentleman:
   1. cầm (琴, “string instrument”)
   2. kì (棋, “board game”)
   3. thư (書, “calligraphy”)

      In the Vietnamese tradition, usually replaced by thi (詩, “poetry”)

   4. hoạ (畫, “painting”)

See also

• lục nghệ (六藝)
• cầm kì thư hoạ (琴棋書畫)
• cầm kì thi hoạ (琴棋詩畫)