Tiếng Việt · Proverb Attested

cây có cội nước có nguồn

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In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A tree has its roots, water its source — no one exists without the ancestors behind them.

Literally: tree has base, water has spring

Examples

Giỗ chạp là để nhớ cây có cội nước có nguồn.Memorial days remind us the tree has roots and the water a source.

Editorial example (VI sweep batch 040, illustrative)

Sources & notes

Discovered via Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897; public domain, via vi.wikisource); retrieved 2026-08-01. Source: source ↗ Attested in Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897). Definition is an original editorial synthesis, not copied from the source.

Common questions

What does “cây có cội nước có nguồn” mean?

A tree has its roots, water its source — no one exists without the ancestors behind them. Literally: tree has base, water has spring

Is “cây có cội nước có nguồn” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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