When referring to a word or action of a social nature, outwardly polite, lacking intimacy, sometimes not sincere, people often use the word “polite”. Many people believe that “guest” is created by combining the names of guest birds and starlings, two birds that have the ability to imitate voices, so they speak very well but do not contain reality inside. Is this correct?
“Hospitality” is a Sino-Vietnamese word, written with two characters 客套, in which the word “guest” (客) has been defined by the Vietnamese dictionary of Khai Tri Tien Duc Association as: “Outside, for the host” “. And “flute” (套) is explained by the popular dictionary as “bag, bag, shell”. Thus, “courtesy” (客套) literally translates to the outer shell, from which it has a figurative meaning as stated.
“Guest” (客) here is also the origin of the name of the guest bird, because there is a notion that whenever this bird sings, a guest comes to the house. The “flute” (套) is most likely also the origin of the starling bird, because according to the Vietnamese dictionary of Khai Tri Tien Duc Association, this word also means “Talking about sentences or sayings using existing sentences. pre-existing. Flute sentences. Flute sentences”; This also speaks to the nature of starlings to imitate. Thus, “courtesy” does not originate from guest birds, starlings but vice versa.
In addition, the word “flute” (套) here also appears in “cliché”, which is literally an empty shell, and broadly understood as tasteless and meaningless content.
(Synthetic)
