What is Art?

Interactions between the elements and principles of art help artists to organize sensorially pleasing
works of art while also giving viewers a framework within which to analyze and discuss aesthetic
ideas.

Learning Objectives

Evaluate the frameworks we can use to analyze and discuss works of art

Key Takeaways

Key Points

 The interplay between the principles and elements of art provide a language with which to
discuss and analyze works of art.
 The principles of art include: movement, unity, harmony, variety, balance, contrast ,
proportion and pattern.
 The elements of art include: texture , form , space , shape, color, value and line .
 How best to define the term art is a subject of constant contention.
 Since conceptual art and postmodern theory came into prominence, it has been proven that
anything can be termed art.

Key Terms

 Formalism:The study of art by analyzing and comparing form and style—the way objects
are made and their purely visual aspects.

What is Art?

Art is a highly diverse range of human activities engaged in creating visual, auditory, or performed
artifacts— artworks—that express the author’s imaginative or technical skill, and are intended to
be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power.

The oldest documented forms of art are visual arts, which include images or objects in fields like
painting, sculpture, printmaking , photography, and other visual media . Architecture is often
included as one of the visual arts; however, like the decorative arts, it involves the creation of
objects where the practical considerations of use are essential, in a way that they usually are not in
another visual art, like a painting.

Art may be characterized in terms of mimesis (its representation of reality), expression,

communication of emotion, or other qualities. Though the definition of what constitutes art is
disputed and has changed over time, general descriptions center on the idea of imaginative or
technical skill stemming from human agency and creation. When it comes to visually identifying
a work of art, there is no single set of values or aesthetic traits. A Baroque painting will not
necessarily share much with a contemporary performance piece, but they are both considered art.

Despite the seemingly indefinable nature of art, there have always existed certain formal
guidelines for its aesthetic judgment and analysis. Formalism is a concept in art theory in which
an artwork’s artistic value is determined solely by its form, or how it is made. Formalism evaluates
works on a purely visual level, considering medium and compositional elements as opposed to any
reference to realism , context, or content.
Art is often examined through the interaction of the principles and elements of art. The principles of
art include movement, unity, harmony, variety, balance, contrast, proportion and pattern. The
elements include texture, form, space, shape, color, value and line. The various interactions between
the elements and principles of art help artists to organize sensorially pleasing works of art while also
giving viewers a framework within which to analyze and discuss aesthetic ideas.

What Does Art Do?

A fundamental purpose inherent to most artistic disciplines is the underlying intention to appeal
to, and connect with, human emotion.

Learning Objectives

Examine the communication, utilitarian, aesthetic, therapeutic, and intellectual purposes of art

Key Takeaways

Key Points

 The decorative arts add aesthetic and design values to the objects we use every day, such as a
glass or a chair.
 Art therapy is a relatively young type of therapy that focuses on the therapeutic benefits of
art-making, using different methods and theories.
 Since the introduction of conceptual art and postmodern theory, it has been proven that
anything can, in fact, be termed art.
 It can be said that the fine arts represent an exploration of the human condition and the
attempt at a deeper understanding of life.

Key Terms

 human condition:The characteristics, key events, and situations which compose the
essentials of human existence, such as birth, growth, emotionality, aspiration, conflict, and
mortality.
 fine arts:Visual art created principally for its aesthetic value.
 aesthetic:Concerned with artistic impact or appearance.

A fundamental purpose common to most art forms is the underlying intention to appeal to, and
connect with, human emotion. However, the term is incredibly broad and is broken up into
numerous sub-categories that lead to utilitarian , decorative, therapeutic, communicative, and
intellectual ends. In its broadest form, art may be considered an exploration of the human condition,
or a product of the human experience.

The decorative arts add aesthetic and design values to everyday objects, such as a glass or a chair,
transforming them from a mere utilitarian object to something aesthetically beautiful. Entire
schools of thought exist based on the concepts of design theory intended for the physical world.

Art can function therapeutically as well, an idea that is explored in art therapy. While definitions
and practices vary, art therapy is generally understood as a form of therapy that uses art media as its
primary mode of communication. It is a relatively young discipline, first introduced around the
mid-20th century.
Historically, the fine arts were meant to appeal to the human intellect, though currently there are no
true boundaries. Typically, fine art movements have reacted to each other both intellectually and
aesthetically throughout the ages. With the introduction of conceptual art and postmodern theory,
practically anything can be termed art. In general terms, the fine arts represent an exploration of the
human condition and the attempt to experience a deeper understanding of life.

What Does Art Mean?

The meaning of art is shaped by the intentions of the artist as well as the feelings and ideas it
engenders in the viewer.

Learning Objectives

Evaluate the perspectives behind the meaning of art

Key Takeaways

Key Points

 The meaning of art is often shared among the members of a given society and dependent
upon cultural context.
 The nature of art has been described by philosopher Richard Wollheim as “one of the most
elusive of the traditional problems of human culture.”
 Some purposes of art may be to express or communicate emotions and ideas, to explore and
appreciate formal elements for their own sake, or to serve as representation.
 Art, at its simplest, is a form of communication and means whatever it is intended to mean by
the artist.

Key Terms

 mimesis:The representation of aspects of the real world, especially human actions, in

literature and art.

The meaning of art is often culturally specific, shared among the members of a given society and
dependent upon cultural context. The purpose of works of art may be to communicate political,
spiritual or philosophical ideas, to create a sense of beauty (see aesthetics), to explore the nature of
perception, for pleasure, or to generate strong emotions. Its purpose may also be seemingly
nonexistent.

The nature of art has been described by philosopher Richard Wollheim as “one of the most elusive
of the traditional problems of human culture.” It has been defined as a vehicle for the expression or
communication of emotions and ideas, a means for exploring and appreciating formal elements for
their own sake, and as mimesis or representation. More recently, thinkers influenced by Martin
Heidegger have interpreted art as the means by which a community develops for itself a medium for
self-expression and interpretation.

Helen Frankenthaler, 1956: A photograph of the American artist Helen Frankenthaler in her studio
in 1956.
Art, in its broadest sense, is a form of communication. It means whatever the artist intends it to
mean, and this meaning is shaped by the materials, techniques, and forms it makes use of, as well
as the ideas and feelings it creates in its viewers . Art is an act of expressing feelings, thoughts, and
observations.

What Makes Art Beautiful?

Beauty in terms of art refers to an interaction between line, color, texture, sound, shape, motion,
and size that is pleasing to the senses.

Learning Objectives

Define “aesthetics” and “beauty” as they relate to art

Key Takeaways

Key Points

 Beauty in art can be difficult to put into words due to a seeming lack of accurate language.
 An aesthetic judgment cannot be an empirical judgment but must instead be processed on a
more intuitive level.
 Aesthetics is the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and appreciation of art,
beauty, and taste. Aesthetics is central to any exploration of art.
 For Immanuel Kant, the aesthetic experience of beauty is a judgment of a subjective, but
common, human truth.
 For Arthur Schopenhauer, aesthetic contemplation of beauty is the freest and most pure and
truthful that intellect can be, and is therefore beautiful.
 Art is often intended to appeal to, and connect with, human emotion.

Key Terms

 aesthetics:The branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of art, taste, and the creation and
appreciation of beauty.
 intuitive:Spontaneous, without requiring conscious thought; easily understood or grasped by
instinct.

What makes art beautiful is a complicated concept, since beauty is subjective and can change based
on context. However, there is a basic human instinct, or internal appreciation, for harmony, balance,
and rhythm which can be defined as beauty. Beauty in terms of art usually refers to an interaction
between line, color, texture , sound, shape, motion, and size that is pleasing to the senses.

Aesthetic Art

Aesthetics is the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and appreciation of art, beauty, and
taste. Aesthetics is central to any exploration of art. The word “aesthetic” is derived from the Greek
“aisthetikos,” meaning “esthetic, sensitive, or sentient. ” In practice, aesthetic judgment refers to the
sensory contemplation or appreciation of an object (not necessarily a work of art), while artistic
judgment refers to the recognition, appreciation, or criticism of a work of art.

Numerous philosophers have attempted to tackle the concept of beauty and art. For Immanuel Kant,
the aesthetic experience of beauty is a judgment of a subjective, but common, human truth. He
argued that all people should agree that a rose is beautiful if it indeed is. There are many common
conceptions of beauty; for example, Michelangelo’s paintings in the Sistine Chapel are widely
recognized as beautiful works of art. However, Kant believes beauty cannot be reduced to any basic
set of characteristics or features.

For Arthur Schopenhauer, aesthetic contemplation of beauty is the freest and most pure that intellect
can be. He believes that only in terms of aesthetics do we contemplate perfection of form without
any kind of worldly agenda.

Word Definition
THẨM MỸ
connected with beauty and art and the understanding of beautiful things

Fashion, is a kind of aesthetic view. Brother is a punk, you satisfied.

(2) My aesthetic standards are quite different from his.
(3) He responded very strongly to the aesthetic of this particular work.
aesthetic (4) His mind was reeling with an almost aesthetic delight at the beauty
adjective of the thing.
(5) The new building has little aesthetic value/appeal.
(6) From an aesthetic point of view it's a thetic view.
(7) Artists finally awoke to the aesthetic possibilities of
photography.
(8) That armchair is comfortable but not very aesthetic.
(9) The benefits of conservation are both financial and aesthetic.
(10) A new aesthetic had been evolved.
(11) His work partakes of the aesthetic fashions of his time.

agency
noun ĐẠI LÝ / CHI NHÁNH
a business or an organization that provides a particular service especially when
representing other businesses or organizations

KHẨU CẦU
to make a deeply felt request, especially for something that is needed
immediately

appeal
 I am appealing (= asking for money) on behalf of the famine victims.
VERB  appeal for something Community leaders appealed for calm (= urged people to remain
calm).
 appeal to somebody Appeal directly to the public, answer their questions.
 appeal to somebody for something The government appealed to the British people for
help.
 appeal for somebody to do something Police have appealed for witnesses to come
forward.
 appeal to somebody to do something Organizers appealed to the crowd not to panic.

Extra Examples
  Police appealed to the public for information about the crime.
 He went over the heads of union officials, appealing directly to the workforce.

to recognize the good qualities of somebody/something

appreciate
verb  Over the years he came to appreciate the beauty and tranquillity of the river.
 His talents are not fully appreciated in that company.
 Her family doesn't appreciate her.
 You can't really appreciate foreign literature in translation.
 The sound quality was poor so we couldn't fully appreciate the music.

artifact
noun HIỆN VẬT KHẢO CỔ
an object that is made by a person, especially something of historical or cultural
interest

NGHỆ NHÂN TRONG NGHỆ THUẬT

a person who creates works of art, especially paintings or drawings

artist  an exhibition of work by contemporary British artists

 a graphic artist
noun
 a make-up artist
 He became a full-time artist in 1929.
 In Paris she met a group of young artists: poets, film-makers and painters.
 This is an artist's impression of the new stadium.
 (figurative) Whoever made this cake is a real artist.

CUỘC TRIỄN LẢM

 Have you seen the Picasso exhibition?

 to hold/organize an exhibition
 an art exhibition
 His first solo exhibition took place in Barcelona in 1925.
 an exhibition of something an exhibition of paintings/photographs
EXHIBITION  The gallery is hosting an exhibition of his work.
 exhibition on somebody/something She is currently preparing an exhibition on Van Gogh
and Expressionism.
 in an exhibition His sculptures have been featured in exhibitions all over the world.
 at an exhibition The paintings are on display at an exhibition which opened on Friday.

TÁC PHẨM NGHỆ THUẬT

pictures and photographs prepared for books, magazines, etc.
artwork
noun 1. The artwork for the LP was done by Bill Hofstadter.
2. Klimt's artwork is reproduced in this exquisite collector's book.
3. The artwork in the book is superb.
4. All the artwork in the book has been done by the author.
5. Can you let me have the finished artwork for the poster by Friday?
 6. The classrooms are sterile, with no artwork on the walls.
7. Proofs of colour artwork may be sent to contributors under separate
cover from their galley proofs.
8. I prefer artwork, although I specialise in fine china and porcelain.
9. Small floral arrangements and decorative artwork add graceful and
poetic elegance.
10. What's more, you can keep the artwork for re-use at a later date!

KHÍA CẠNH
a particular part or feature of a situation, an idea, a problem, etc.; a way in which it
may be considered

2. On the course we received training in every aspect of the job.

3. Love is something eternal; the aspect may change, but not the essence.
4. Dealing with people is the most important aspect of my work.
5. This was one aspect of her character he hadn't seen before.
aspect 6. The country's industry is assuming a new aspect.
noun 7. The house has a southern aspect.
8. Climate and weather affect every aspect of our lives.
9. The training program covers every aspect of the job.
10. Every aspect of the original has been closely studied and
painstakingly reconstructed.
11. Individuals and businesses appear woefully uninformed about this
aspect of the information age.
12. The aspect of the salesman frightened the customer off.
13. This aspect is discussed further by Crane, whom I mentioned earlier.
14. They were royally received in every aspect.

KHÁT VỌNG
a strong desire to have or do something

 I didn't realize you had political aspirations.

 aspiration to do something He has never had any aspiration to earn a lot of money.
 aspiration for something What changes are needed to meet women's aspirations for
employment?

aspiration 1 She was filled with the aspiration to succeed in life.

noun 2 He has never had any aspiration to earn a lot of money.
3 The aspiration towards some sort of rational understanding of the
causal relationship is probably the best we can achieve.
4 New Aspiration, a prospective coalition partner, was already under
public pressure against the inclusion of tainted politicians in the
line-up.
5 The most useful diagnostic procedure is aspiration and analysis of
synovial fluid from an affected joint.
6 We describe two cases of accidental aspiration of a foreign body after
use of a metered dose inhaler.
7 This experience of a tight community of shared aspiration is rare in
a novelist's lonely life.
 8 Remove the medium by aspiration, leaving the bacterial pellet as dry
as possible. 3.
9 The universe is animated by an all-pervasive aspiration to a higher
state, a greater perfection as

TÁC GIẢ
a person who writes books or the person who wrote a particular book

 Who is your favourite author?

author  He is the author of three books on art.
noun  best-selling author Paul Theroux
 the lead author of the report
 the author of a novel/study/article
 Who's the author?
 According to report author Matt Blaze, the technique requires no special skill.
 Really quick author's note: This is the last chapter of the story.
 The film is based on a novel written by a female author.
 The report's authors point to a recent study of American college students.

RỘNG
Wide

 a broad street/avenue/river
 He's got broad shoulders.
 He is tall, broad and muscular.
broad  a broad smile/grin (= one in which your mouth is stretched very wide because you are
adjective very pleased)

opposite narrow
Extra Examples

 He turned to me with a broad smile.

 He was gorgeous—broad shoulders and twinkling eyes.
 We drove down a broad avenue lined with trees.
 a broad back/​ chest/​ face/​ forehead

ĐẶC TRƯNG CHO

to be typical of a person, place or thing

1. How would you characterize the mood of the 1990s?

2. Bright colours and bold strokes characterize his early paintings.
characterize
verb 3. Both characterize connections in reality and both give an account
of the character of our beliefs about them.
4. Scientists characterize the humanities as uncertain, vague and
irrelevant.
5. In consequence, simple statistical techniques are used to
characterize the grain size distribution data.
6. Growers characterize the upcoming battle as a fight for their right
to earn a living.
 7. The problem arose of how best to characterize the booklet for
teachers.
8. His opponents have tried to characterize him as indifferent to the
concerns of the working class.
9. In the pages that follow I will characterize some of the more obvious
signs of a badly organized and motivated operation.
10. Improve laboratory capabilities to identify and characterize
emerging pathogens.

Ý TƯỞNG
an idea or a principle that is connected with something abstract

 oncept of something the concept of social class

 helping students grasp abstract concepts such as leadership and teamwork
 basic/fundamental/key/core concepts
 concept that… the concept that everyone should have equality of opportunity
 the concept behind something the concepts behind an artist's work

see also high-concept

Extra Examples

 ‘Mental handicap’ should be replaced with the broader concept of ‘learning difficulties’.
concept  Culture is a fairly nebulous concept.
noun  He formulated the concept of imaginary time.
 Not all companies have embraced the concept of diversity in the workplace.
 She finds it difficult to grasp abstract concepts.
 Students must be able to apply classroom concepts to practical situations.
 Teachers should have a clear concept of what a multiracial society is.
 The book provides concrete interpretations of some rather abstract concepts.
 The concept of ‘adequate medical care’ is too vague.
 The concept of my book is very simple.
 The whole concept of responsibility was alien to him.

Concept mang tính bao quát, định hướng và là mục tiêu chung. Một concept có thể
có rất nhiều idea, và những idea này hỗ trợ việc thể hiện concept. Chúng có mối
quan hệ liên kết nhau, vì vậy có thể nói, concept phải hình thành trước idea để
những ý tưởng (idea) trở nên hữu dụng khi hoàn toàn bám sát, đáp ứng được với
yêu cầu và giá trị cốt lõi mà doanh nghiệp hay khách hàng mục tiêu đề ra trong việc
định vị hình ảnh thương hiệu cá nhân.

KHÁI NIỆM
related to or based on ideas

The two systems are, at bottom, conceptual models.

conceptual
adjective 2 The main weakness of the proposal is conceptual.
3 In the 50s, Rauschenberg anticipated the conceptual art movement of
the 80s.
4 Coursework gives a solid conceptual grounding introducing major
themes from economics, sociology,[www.Sentencedict.com] history and
business management.
5 If we can develop a conceptual language therefore, there may be
 important advantages for the scheme.
6 Library-Collegians reverse the usual conceptual model, as their name
implies.
7 Postmodernism I believe that Bourdieu's conceptual framework opens
up the social-scientific study of postmodernism in several ways.
8 It means using evidence, making deductions, seeing conceptual
connections and drawing conclusions.
9 They are included to provide insight into the conceptual underpinnings
of the team-based, decentralized approach.
10 As a conceptual analysis of the idea of law, sanction theories of
the traditional Austinian type are largely discredited.
11 Conceptual problems Despite these technical limitations,
physiological psychologists take the lesion method very much for
granted.

CẤU THÀNH NÊN

to be considered to be something

 Does such an activity constitute a criminal offence?

 The increase in racial tension constitutes a threat to our society.
 to constitute a danger/crime/breach/nuisance
 His action was interpreted as constituting a threat to the community.

Extra Examples

 The census constitutes the principal source of official statistics.

 The committee ruled that the US ban constituted an infringement of free trade.
 The conference in itself constitutes a solid achievement.
constitute  This action constitutes a violation of international law.
verb
A whole consists of parts, the parts constitute the whole.
2. Testing patients without their consent would constitute a
professional and legal offence.
3. These small nations constitute an important grouping within the EU.
4. Four quarts constitute a gallon.
5. Twelve months constitute a year.
5. Sentencedict.com is a online sentence dictionary, on which you can
find excellent sentences for a large number of words.
6. Does such an activity constitute a criminal offence?
7. The universities constitute a reservoir of expert knowledge.
8. Women constitute about 10% of Parliament.
9. Listening, speaking, reading, then writing constitute the
fundamental order in language learning.
10. The long - term unemployed now constitute a sort of underclass.

contemplation
noun SUY NGHĨ SÂU
the act of thinking deeply about something
  He sat there deep in contemplation.
 Let's take a few moments of quiet contemplation.
 The monks dedicate themselves to a life of prayer and contemplation.

Extra Examples

 He sat by the window, deep in contemplation.

 Some people spend much time in contemplation of the mysteries of life and death.

to think about whether you should do something, or how you should do

something

 ontemplate something You're too young to be contemplating retirement.

 contemplate doing something I have never contemplated living abroad.
 contemplate how/what, etc… He continued while she contemplated how to answer.

Extra Examples
CONTEMPLATE
(VERB)  Are you willing to contemplate retraining?
 He was very depressed and even contemplated suicide.
 She contemplated a change of direction in her life
 She was seriously contemplating moving to Mexico.
 She was seriously contemplating working abroad.
 We're contemplating the possibility of moving house.
 He's only 55, but he's already contemplating retirement.

decorated in a way that makes it attractive; intended to look attractive or pretty

1. The style is ornate and highly decorative.

2. She drew a decorative border around the picture.
3. She is decorative, larger than life, a terrific glamourpuss.
4. Tiffany revamped her sitting room with simple decorative tricks.
5. The curtains are for purely decorative purposes and do not open or
decorative close.
adjective 6. Bright cushions add a decorative touch to a room.
7. The items he makes are purely decorative.
8. The mirror is functional yet decorative.
9. Brass pans added a decorative touch to the plain brick wall.
10. The coloured lights are very decorative.
11. The decorative touches have made this house a warm and welcoming
home.
12. You also get a good decorative finish.
13. The couple's company designs and makes decorative glassware and soft
furnishings as well as offering a full design and decorating service.

denote DẤU HIỆU CỦA

verb to be a sign of something

1. What does the word 'curriculum' denote that 'course' does not?
 2. Red eyes denote strain and fatigue.
3. The flashing lights denote dangerous roads ahead.
4. We often denote danger by red letters.
5. Crosses on the map denote villages.
6. The colour red is used to denote passion or danger.
7. Arrows denote the positions of the close migrating bands.
8. The loss of colour does not denote any particular condition.
9. The bar lines denote standard errors.

XÁC ĐỊNH RÕ
to discover the facts about something; to calculate something exactly

1. Our deeds determine us, much as we determine our deeds.

2. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.
determine 3. Further information is required to determine the correct answer in
verb any given instance.
4. We set out to determine exactly what happened that night.
5. Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go. They
merely determine where you start.
6. We need a detailed investigation to determine exactly why these
cancers are occurring.
7. Goals determine what you are going to be.
8. An inquiry was set up to determine the cause of the accident.

SỰ QUYẾT TÂM

 He fought the illness with courage and determination.

 They had survived by sheer determination.
 determination to do something I admire her determination to get it right.

Extra Examples

 He hung on with grim determination.

DETERMINATION  He succeeded by hard work and sheer determination.
(NOUN)  She demonstrated a clear determination to improve her performance.
 She expressed her determination to continue in the job.
 She has shown great determination and skill.
 She was full of determination to achieve her goals.
 The government last night signalled its determination to resist tax cuts.
 The prime minister's speech revealed a clear determination to break the power of the
unions.
 With a renewed determination, she stood up.
 The key to his success was his dogged determination see things through.

discipline KỶ LUẬT
noun the practice of training people to obey rules and orders and punishing them if they
do not; the controlled behaviour or situation that is the result of this training

 The school has a reputation for high standards of discipline.

 Strict discipline is imposed on army recruits.
  harsh/rigorous/rigid/iron discipline
 She keeps good discipline in class.
 to instill/enforce/impose/maintain discipline
 Lack of discipline at home meant that many pupils found it difficult to settle in to the
ordered environment of the school.
 a serious breach of discipline

ĐA DẠNG
very different from each other and of various kinds

The opinions of the two factions are diverse.

2 Work well with a multi-cultural and diverse work force.
3 Students from countries as diverse as Colombia and Lithuania use
Cambridge textbooks when they learn English.
diverse 4 It is geographically more diverse than any other continent.
adjective 5 The book covers such diverse topics as snorkelling and first aid.
6 India is quite diverse, both politically and religiously.
7 Linguistics embraces a diverse range of subjects such as phonetics
and stylistics.
8 Their music fuses elements as diverse as Cajun,(www.Sentencedict.com)
bebop and Cuban waltzes.
9 New York is a very culturally/ethnically diverse city.
10 Members of the largest and most diverse phylum of animals , have
segmented bodies and an external skeleton.

KHÓ NẮM BẶT

difficult to find, define or achieve

 Eric, as elusive as ever, was nowhere to be found.

 the elusive concept of ‘literature’
elusive  A solution to the problem of toxic waste is proving elusive.
adjective
Extra Examples

 Further movie roles have proved somewhat elusive for the young actor.
 He was searching for the ever elusive ‘perfect job’.
 Sleep was strangely elusive.
 The murderer remained frustratingly elusive.
 Truth is a notoriously elusive quality.

THU HÚT SỰ CHÚ Ý

to succeed in attracting and keeping somebody's attention and interest
engage
 It is a movie that engages both the mind and the eye.
verb
 Their pleas failed to engage any sympathy.
 to engage the public/audience/viewer/reader
 It was difficult to engage the students at first.
 The party is attempting to engage young voters politically.
 ĐÁNH GIÁ
to form an opinion of the amount, value or quality of something after thinking
about it carefully

 evaluate something The trial will evaluate the effectiveness of the different drugs.
 Researchers evaluated teaching performance by comparing students' exam results.
 evaluate how, whether, etc… The study will critically evaluate whether this technology is
useful.
 We need to evaluate how well the policy is working.
 evaluate somebody/something for something The cheeses are evaluated for flavour,
evaluate texture and colour.
verb  evaluate somebody/something on something Candidates are evaluated on their ability to
think independently.

Wordfinder
Extra Examples

 The effects of changes in land use can be evaluated by analysis of flooding patterns.
 The evidence should be carefully evaluated.
 The role of stay-at-home mother is more positively evaluated in working-class
communities.
 This does not seem an accurate way of evaluating employees' performance.

BÀY TỎ
to show or make known a feeling, an opinion, etc. by words, looks or actions

 express something Teachers have expressed concern about the changes.

 to express a view/an opinion
 to express a hope/desire
 to express fears/doubts
 Customers expressed interest in trying the product.
 express something to somebody I'd like to express my gratitude to everyone who helped
us.
 express how, what, etc… Words cannot express how pleased I am.
express
verb
see also unexpressed
Extra Examples

 His views have been expressed in numerous speeches.

 Differences of opinion were freely expressed in public debate.
 He expressed his anger openly.
 Many patients feel unable to express their fears.
 I want to express my sincere thanks to the many readers who sent messages of support.
 Business leaders expressed disappointment with the decision.
 Later, he expressed his regret that he hadn't taken the chance.
 She expressed sympathy, but said she could not help.
 Residents expressed frustration with the slowness of the process.
 Many people have expressed reservations about this approach.

fine TỐT
adjective of high quality; good

 a very fine performance

 fine clothes/wines/workmanship
 It's a particularly fine example of Saxon architecture.
 the finest collection of paintings in Europe
 She's a fine actor and an even finer dancer.
 Jim has made a fine job of the garden.
 people who enjoy the finer things in life (= for example art, good food, etc.)
 It was his finest hour (= most successful period) as manager of the England team.
 This movie features some of her finest work.
 He tried to appeal to their finer feelings (= feelings of duty, love, etc.)

CHỦ NGHĨA HÌNH THỨC

formalism
a style or method in art, music, literature, etc. that pays more attention to the rules
noun
and the correct arrangement and appearance of things than to inner meaning and
feelings

=FABRIC
the structure of a particular system

 the basic framework of society

framework  a regulatory/legislative framework
noun  framework for something We need to establish a legal framework for the protection of
the environment.

Extra Examples

 The needs of individual schools need to be considered in a wider framework.

 Negotiations were also conducted outside the framework of the treaty talks proper.

TẠO RA
to produce or create something

 to generate revenue/income/profit
 We need someone to generate new ideas.
generate  The proposal has generated a lot of interest.
verb
Synonyms make
Extra Examples

 The lottery is expected to generate substantial funds for charities.

 People used to believe that dirt spontaneously generated disease.
 a sequence of randomly generated fractions

guidelines HƯỚNG DẪN

noun a set of rules or instructions that are given by an official organization telling you
how to do something, especially something difficult
  The government has drawn up guidelines on the treatment of the mentally ill.

Extra Examples

 A task force has formed to develop voluntary guidelines.

 The US Supreme Court is reviewing sentencing guidelines.
 The document gives clear guidelines on the use of pesticides.
 The following guidelines were approved in October 1995.
 The guidelines recommend that children under 12 avoid these foods.
 The guidelines require this information to be made available to the public.
 The minister is accused of allowing the company to breach guidelines on arms sales.
 The organization has issued a set of guidelines for builders to follow.
 Under federal guidelines, they must serve at least five years in prison.

HÒA HỢP / BÌNH YÊN

a state of peaceful existence and agreement

 social/racial harmony
 in harmony They lived together in perfect harmony.
 in harmony with something the need to be in harmony with our environment
harmony
noun compare discord
Extra Examples

 On the surface their life was a model of domestic harmony.

 The Church tries to promote racial harmony.
 Many laws and customs are about social harmony.
 They try to foster harmony between different groups of people.
 These communities lived in greater harmony with the environment than modern urban
societies.
 We pray that peace and harmony may soon return to this troubled nation.

KHÔNG THỂ XÁC ĐỊNH DC

indefinable difficult or impossible to define or explain
adjective
 She has that indefinable something that makes an actress a star.
 He felt, in some indefinable way, that he had come home.

VỐN CÓ / HIÊN HỮU

that is a basic or permanent part of somebody/something and that cannot be
inherent removed
adjective Polarity is inherent in a magnet.
(2) Everyone has his inherent power, which is easily concealed by
habits, blurred by time, and eroded by laziness.
(3) Stress is an inherent part of dieting.
(4) A love of music is inherent in human nature.
(5) There is no inherent virtue in having read all the latest books.
 (6) I'm afraid the problems you mention are inherent in the system.
(7) There are dangers/risks inherent in almost every sport.
(8) Service conditions soon revealed the inherent weaknesses in the
vehicle's design.
(9) Every business has its own inherent risks.
(10) There are inherent dangers in the system.
(11) I think racism is unconsciously inherent in practically everyone.
(12) I have an inherent distrust of lawyers.
(13) Individuality is a valued and inherent part of the British
character.
(14) Violence is inherent in our society.

TRÍ TUỆ
the ability to think in a logical way and understand things, especially at an
advanced level; your mind
1. Anger rusts intellect so that it cannot discern right from
wrong.
2. Newton is a man of great intellect.
3. She had the combined talents of toughness, intellect, experience and
unsullied reputation.
4. Her energy and intellect are respected all over the world.
intellect 5. Intellect distinguishes humans from other animals.
noun
6. She has a formidable intellect.
7. You should marry intellect with sensibility in dealing with it.
8. She manages to combine a sharp mind/intellect with a sympathetic
manner.
9. The massive intellect of his mother had been a formative influence
from his earliest years.
10. His intellect and mental agility have never been in doubt.
11. They described him as a man of keen intellect.
12. Her intellect is famed far and wide.
13. He combined a formidable intellect with a talent for speaking.

intellectual
adjective
well educated and enjoying activities in which you have to think seriously about
things

connected with or using a person's ability to think in a logical way and understand
things
intellectual
adjective 1, Companies should protect their intellectual property with patents
and trademarks.
2, Sontag has always been that rarity, a glamorous intellectual.
3, His writing has been dismissed as mere intellectual posturing.
4, Happy birthday to an attractive,intellectual,sophisticated and all
round splendid person.
 5, He was an intellectual, scholarly man.
6, You don't get any intellectual stimulation in this job.
7, He did not regard himself as her intellectual equal.
8, She considered everyone her intellectual inferior.
9, High levels of lead could damage the intellectual development of
children.
10, They were very intellectual and witty.
11, His approach to acting is visceral rather than intellectual.
12, The firm was found to have infringed intellectual property rights.
13, The film was attacked in many intellectual quarters from both the
left and the right,(http://sentencedict.com/intellectual.html) for
being false or simple-minded.
14, Intellectual pretension was never one of his vices.

CÓ Ý ĐỊNH
to have a plan, result or purpose in your mind when you do something

 We finished later than we had intended.

 intend to do something I fully intended (= definitely intended) to pay for the damage.
 I never intended to hurt you.
 The train we had originally intended to catch had already left.
 intend somebody/something to do something The writer clearly intends his readers to
identify with the main character.
 intend doing something (British English) I don't intend staying long.
intend  intend something The company intends a slow-down in expansion.
verb  intend somebody something He intended her no harm (= it was not his plan to harm her).
 it is intended that… It is intended that production will start next month.
 intend that… We intend that production will start next month.

More Like This Verbs usually followed by infinitives

Extra Examples

 She fully intends to continue her sporting career once she has recovered from her injuries.
 He intends to retire at the end of this year.
 I don't intend to make the same mistake again.
 She didn't intend to kill him.
 They stayed much longer than they'd originally intended.
 What do you intend to do now?

Ý ĐỊNH
what you intend or plan to do; your aim

intention
noun  intention of doing something I have no intention of going to the wedding.
 I have every intention of paying her back what I owe her.
 with the intention of doing something He left England with the intention of travelling in
Africa.
 intention to do something He has announced his intention to retire.
 The Prime Minister declared her intention to remain in office despite declining support.
 The original intention was to devote three months to the project.
 intention in doing something Her intentions in making this proposal are clear.
  intention that… It was not my intention that she should suffer.
 She's full of good intentions but they rarely work out.
 I did it with the best (of) intentions (= meaning to help), but I only succeeded in annoying
them.

Synonyms purpose
see also well intentioned
Extra Examples

 He didn't make his intentions clear in his letter.

 His intention in inviting us to dinner was to persuade us to back his project.
 I have no intention of changing jobs.
 I went to the bank with the intention of getting some cash.
 It was done with the best intentions, I assure you.
 My original intention was to study all morning, but this turned out to be impractical.
 She may never reveal her true intentions.
 The council has announced its intention to crack down on parking offences.

TƯƠNG TÁC = INTERACTION

the way in which two or more things or people affect each other

1. She examines the interplay between changing gender divisions and

urban change.
2. The interplay between the new politics and the modern media will
unbalance the political process and inhibit its workings.
3. Our personalities result from the complex interplay between our genes
and our environment.
4. These findings would suggest that an interplay of various
interplay intraluminal factors, including bile acids themselves, may affect
noun colonic function.
5. Particular attention will be paid to the interplay of arguments
dealing with equity, economic efficiency and different legal systems.
6. Well organized, a nice grasp of social interplay. I would say a good
beginning.
7. Many issues in multimedia involve the interplay between analogue and
digital information.
8. In their interplay, the two developments tended to reinforce each
other on an international scale.
9. The interplay of these very different personalities with Beckett's
mercurial temperament results in fascinating and varied music.
10. The supple interplay of major themes will furnish it with the
exhilarating sense of a mind meticulous but free.

PHÁN XÉT
judgement the ability to make sensible decisions after carefully considering the best thing to do
noun
 good/poor/sound judgement
 She showed a lack of judgement when she gave Mark the job.
 It's not something I can give you rules for; you'll have to use your judgement.
 He achieved his aim more by luck than judgement.
  The accident was caused by an error of judgement on the part of the pilot.

Extra Examples

 He trusted his wife's judgement.

 His emotions may have clouded his editorial judgement.
 I don't think he's dishonest, but I question his judgement.
 Landing a plane requires fine judgement.
 She has a reputation for sound professional judgement.

used when you want to emphasize how small, unimportant, etc.

somebody/something is
mere
adjective
 It took her a mere 20 minutes to win.
 A mere 2 per cent of their budget has been spent on publicity.
 He seemed so young, a mere boy.
 You've got the job. The interview will be a mere formality.

CHẾT
the state of being human and not living forever
mortality
n
oun  Poor hygiene led to high mortality among children.
 The disease has caused widespread mortality.
 a condition that often results in premature mortality
 a lower annual mortality from cancer

KHÔNG THẬT
not existing; not real

 a non-existent problem
 ‘How's your social life?’ ‘Non-existent, I'm afraid.’
 Hospital beds were scarce and medicines were practically non-existent.
non-existent
adjective
compare existent
Extra Examples

 Services for customers on public transport are becoming non-existent.

 The hotel turned out to be completely non-existent.
 Typewriters have become almost non-existent in offices.
 She was claiming welfare for two non-existent children.
 They would waste their time worrying about non-existent dangers.

VỪA LÒNG
pleasing that gives you pleasure or makes you feel satisfied
adjective
Pleasing everybody is pleasing nobody.
2. The arrangement of the furniture formed a pleasing ensemble.
3. This area of France has a pleasing climate in August.
 4. This is more pleasing in appearance.
5. Visually the house is very pleasing, but it's uncomfortable.
6. He manifested a pleasing personality on stage.
7. Visually the chair is very pleasing, but it's uncomfortable.
8. The design of the house had a pleasing symmetry, its oblong shape
being picked up in its elongated windows.
9. There's no pleasing our teacher, he always grumbles about our work
even when we've done our best.
10. Their candor is a very pleasing feature.
11. The view was pleasing.
12. His poem has a pleasing rhythm.

VỪA LÒNG
a state of feeling or being happy or satisfied

 His eyes lit up with pleasure.

 for pleasure Encourage your child to read for pleasure.
 pleasure in something He takes no pleasure in his work.
 pleasure in doing something She took pleasure in shocking her parents.
 pleasure from/out of something A large number of people fail to derive any pleasure at all
pleasure from horror movies.
noun  pleasure from/out of doing something He gets a lot of pleasure out of watching his
children perform.
 pleasure of doing something She had the pleasure of seeing him look surprised.
 pleasure of something (formal) We request the pleasure of your company at the marriage
of our daughter Lisa.
 (formal) May I have the pleasure of the next dance?
 the sheer pleasure of performing music
 pleasure at something I was touched by her genuine pleasure at her mother's present.
 pleasure at doing something The band's pleasure at being back in Dublin was clear.
 It gives me great pleasure to introduce our guest speaker.
 Caring for a sick relative is a task that brings both pleasure and pain.
 (formal) The photographs are now available for your viewing pleasure.

HẬU HIỆN ĐẠI

connected with or influenced by postmodernism

The same can be said of the postmodern discovery that the universe is
expanding.
2. Similarly, postmodern culture is also seen as highly diverse and mass
produced.
postmodern
adjective 3. The latter constitute an emergent postmodern transformation based
on the resurgent realities of body, nature, and place.
4. In what follows I shall claim that postmodern cultural forms do indeed
signify, only that they signify differently.
5. Making sense of his status as a postmodern social icon is as difficult
as understanding his posthumous deification by millions of fans.
6. In literary criticism, the idea of the postmodern has scarcely taken
hold at all.sentencedict.com/POSTMODERN.html
7. Postmodern psychotherapy, in contradistinction, could no longer
speak in terms of such differentiation.
 8. In other words, we are in a postmodern novel.

CĂN BẢN / CHÍNH

main; most important; basic

primary
adjective  our primary objective/goal/purpose
 The primary aim of this course is to improve your spoken English.
 Our primary concern must be the children.
 Good healthcare is of primary importance.
 The film's primary focus is on two families.
 What is the primary reason for global warming?

NỔI BẬT
the state of being important, well known or easy to notice

 a young actor who has recently risen to prominence

 The newspapers have given undue prominence to the story.
 She has achieved a prominence she hardly deserves.
prominence  prominence as something The study of local history has gained prominence as an
noun academic discipline.

Extra Examples

 She came to national prominence as an artist in the 1960s.

 The city's rise to prominence as a port began in the early 19th century.
 The former rebels were given positions of prominence in the new government.
 a performance which gives a special prominence to the part of Hamlet's mother
 The chef's television programmes brought him to national prominence.

LIÊN TƯỞNG TỚI

to describe or be connected to somebody/something

 The star refers to items which are intended for the advanced learner.
 The term ‘Arts’ usually refers to humanities and social sciences.
 This paragraph refers to the events of last year.
refer to
 In Austen's tale, the title refers to the pride of Darcy.
somebody/something
 The term ‘accent’ refers to pronunciation. The term ‘dialect’ refers to vocabulary and
grammar.
 The term ‘alexia’ is used to refer to any acquired disorder of reading.
 These figures refer only to full time employees.

to mention or speak about somebody/something

refer to
somebody/something  The victims were not referred to by name.
(as something)  Her mother never referred to him again.
 You know who I'm referring to.
 I promised not to refer to the matter again.
  He referred to the fact that the vessel had not undergone a refit since 1987.
 She always referred to Ben as ‘that nice man’.
 This process is often referred to as global warming.

Extra Examples

 Kaminsky and Reinhart—hereafter referred to as KR

 The disease was commonly referred to as ‘the green sickness’.

to be a symbol of something
synonym symbolize
represent
verb  Each colour on the chart represents a different department.
 Wind direction is represented by arrows.
 The artist uses doves to represent peace.
 It is not clear what these symbols were intended to represent.

CÓ VẺ
in a way that appears to be true but may in fact not be

Her fellow members marveled at her seemingly infinite energy.

2 The new minister was faced with a seemingly impossible task.
3 A seemingly endless line of trucks waits in vain to load up.
seemingly 4 For several seemingly interminable seconds no one spoke.
adverb 5 She was seemingly unaffected by his presence.
6 It was a seemingly impossible task.
7 He remains confident and seemingly untroubled by his recent problems.
8 Seemingly,(www.Sentencedict.com) he borrowed the money from the bank.
9 Alice was standing in the street, seemingly oblivious to the rain.
10 They were now faced with seemingly insurmountable technical
problems.
11 She plays with seemingly effortless skill.

ĐỘC NHẤT
only; single

1. Griffiths is the sole survivor of the crash.

2. I've got a hole in the sole of my shoe.
3. Would you like some more sole?
sole 4. My sole reason for coming here was to see you.
adjective 5. His sole aim in life is to enjoy himself.
6. His sole aim is personal aggrandizement.
7. John was the sole heir to a vast estate.
8. I wear my old shoes every day. One sole has come unglued.
9. I was the sole representative of the general practitioners.
10. Finance for a sole trader usually comes from the individual's own
savings or from family and friends.
11. Making such decisions is not the sole prerogative of managers.
 TÂM LINH
connected with the human spirit, rather than the body or physical things

 a spiritual experience
 spiritual development
 His music leads us on a spiritual journey.
 the human capacity for spiritual growth
 a lack of spiritual values in the modern world
 We're concerned about your spiritual welfare.
spiritual  I consider myself to have deep moral and spiritual values.
adjective
opposite material
Extra Examples

 The colours had an almost spiritual quality.

 This is a deeply spiritual piece of music.
 a truly spiritual experience
 He was committed to the welfare, both spiritual and physical, of the men under his
command.
 Many Eastern cultures put spiritual values before material values.
 Nurses must respond to the spiritual needs of patients.

CHỦ QUAN
based on your own ideas or opinions rather than facts and therefore sometimes
unfair

1. Everyone's opinion is bound to be subjective.

2. We know that taste in art is a subjective matter.
3. As a critic, he is far too subjective.
subjective
adjective 4. Our perception of things is often influenced by subjective factors,
such as tiredness.
5. The way they interpreted their past was highly subjective.
6. This view is subjective and therefore open to disagreement.
7. This is a subjective judgement of her abilities.
8. Taste in art is essentially subjective.
9. More specific and less subjective criteria should be used in
selecting people for promotion within the company.
10. The ratings were based on the subjective judgement of one person.

KHÁCH QUAN
not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; considering only facts

 an objective assessment of the situation

OBJECTIVE  objective truth/facts/reality
 objective criteria/measures/measurements
 He doesn't even pretend to be impartial and objective.
 It's hard to remain completely objective.

opposite subjective
 Extra Examples

 It's hard for parents to be objective about their own children.

 There's little objective evidence to suggest that he is guilty.
 We need to have an independent and objective assessment of the candidate's abilities.
 In the 19th century, scientists began to adopt a much more objective approach to their
subject.
 These figures are a reliable and objective indicator of changing trends in people's
lifestyles.
 I find it difficult to be objective where he's concerned.

a particular way of doing something, especially one in which you have to learn
special skills

 management techniques
 modern surgical techniques
 Researchers used advanced techniques to analyse the brain scans.
 (formal) to employ/apply a technique
 We have developed a new technique that corrects the problem.
 technique for doing something Teachers learn various techniques for dealing with
problem students.

Extra Examples
technique
noun  The artist combines different techniques in the same painting.
 Modern freezing techniques enable the chickens to be stored for weeks.
 On the walls I applied the same technique as I had used for the ceiling.
 The students were struggling to master the new technique.
 They employ the latest techniques in farm management.
 They learn basic techniques in self-defence.
 singing techniques derived from Tibetan music
 techniques for the storage of data
 It is now known that ancient seafarers used quite sophisticated navigating techniques.
 The crime was solved using the most advanced forensic techniques.
 This is a powerful negotiating technique.
 Which management techniques seem to work best?
 He has an ingenious technique for dealing with problems of that sort.

BỀ MẶT
the way a surface, substance or piece of cloth feels when you touch it, for example
how rough, smooth, hard or soft it is

 the soft texture of velvet

texture
 She uses a variety of different colours and textures in her wall hangings.
noun
 The method used will vary with the soil texture and climate.

Extra Examples

 The cloth was rough in texture.

 the gritty texture of sand
 She pays great attention to the surface texture of her paintings.
 (figurative) the movie's stunning visual texture
 TRỊ LIỆU
helping you to relax

1. Therapeutic measures were selected to fit the patient.

2. Some claim that the herb has therapeutic value for treating pain.
3. When I was sad, music had a therapeutic effect.
4. I find swimming very therapeutic.
5. They hustled Jeanne to accept their therapeutic plan.
therapeutic 6. Astanga Yoga is a therapeutic physical exercise that focuses on
adjective breathing and relaxation.
7. This real clinical problem presents a therapeutic dilemma.
8. The activity of psychoanalysis in the therapeutic setting can not
be adequately grasped and stated in mechanistic, quantitative terms.
9. No doubt writing this book had therapeutic effects for its author.
10. That diagnosis is not so much for therapeutic reasons as for
administrative and management purposes.
11. A summary of acute therapeutic stratagems is provided in Table 3-4.
12. In addition, improved therapeutic agents with more specific and
controlled effects on platelet metabolism may be developed allowing
more effective intervention.

TRỊ LỆU
the treatment of a physical problem or an illness

1. She needed speech therapy after she suffered severe head injuries
in a car accident.
2. I underwent aversion therapy for my addiction to smoking.
3. Mention sex therapy and most people will titter in embarrassment.
4. Most patients undergo some sort of drug therapy for leukaemia.
therapy 5. They discuss their problems in group therapy sessions.
noun 6. She will now begin occupational therapy to regain the use of her
hands.
7. A stammering child can benefit from speech therapy.
8. Joining a club can be a therapy for loneliness.
9. The scientists are cautious about using enzyme therapy on humans.
10. The next stage in the economic shock therapy will be freeing energy
prices.
11. Her condition is not responsive to drug therapy.
12. I needed a lot of retail therapy to help me get over my ex-boyfriend.
13. Physical therapy is an important adjunct to drug treatments.

ĐẶC ĐIỂM TRONG TÍNH CÁCH

trait a particular quality in your personality
noun
1. Sincerity, a deep genuine, heart-felt sincerity, is a trait of true
and noble manhood.
2. Aggression is by no means a male-only trait.
3. Persistence is the common trait of anyone who has had a significant
 impact on the world.
4. Awareness of class is a typically British trait.
5. Arrogance is a very unattractive personality/character trait.
6. Pessimism is her distinguishing trait: she worries about many aspects
of her work.
7. This irascible trait naturally served to increase his enemies.
8. Of course, as for any other trait, it may be impossible for any one
homozygous genotype to achieve the optimum.
9. Some trait must provide them with immunity from predation.
10. Similarity in a trait is measured with a value called concordance.
11. If the average value of the trait in the offspring is higher than
the parental generation average, the trait is heritable.
12. The trait of the body is its temporality or the fact that it can
not escape death.
13. This trait was in evidence last week as the president, Leonid
Kravchuk, threw his country into a constitutional crisis.

NỀN TẢNG NHƯNG KO RÕ RÀNG

important in a situation but not always easily noticed or stated clearly

 The underlying assumption is that the amount of money available is limited.

 Unemployment may be an underlying cause of the rising crime rate.
underlying
adjective Extra Examples

 Despite this month's disappointing figures, the underlying trend is healthy.

 He has no illusions about the underlying reality of army life.
 She was not sure what his underlying motives were.
 The joke did not obscure the underlying seriousness of her point.
 The underlying reasons for these differences will be explored in depth in the next chapter.
 Their policies have resulted in a definite underlying improvement in the economy.

unity the quality of looking or being complete in a natural and attractive way
noun
 The design lacks unity.
 the organic unity of Raphael's picture

THỰC DỤNG
designed to be useful and practical rather than attractive

1. His office is very utilitarian in style, with no decoration.

utilitarian
adjective 2. Bruce's office is a corner one, utilitarian and unglamorous.
3. Like many factories it's a very ugly utilitarian building.
4. This is a utilitarian relationship with nature, in which it becomes
a treasure chest of consumer goodies.
5. Utilitarian notions in the social sciences are not enough for even
providing a conceptual framework for grasping what actually happens.
6. A utilitarian concrete block clogged with book kiosks and leftist
murals, it draws its 17,000 students from six northern provinces.
7. Mitchell groaned when he saw her old backpack, utilitarian relic of
hippie days.
8. But Boston has also taken a utilitarian approach, often going where
opportunity knocks in the search for partners.