Khái

Khái is a Vietnamese word and proper name used in several contexts, most commonly as a lexical item meaning “outline,” “summary,” or “abstract.” In modern Vietnamese, the term is employed in academic, literary, and journalistic writing to denote a brief presentation of the main points of a text or argument. The word derives from Classical Chinese, where the character 概 (gài) conveys a sense of “general” or “overall.” In Vietnamese orthography, the diacritic mark on the vowel indicates a rising tone, distinguishing it from similarly spelled forms.

Beyond its lexical function, Khái appears as a family name in Vietnam, though it is relatively rare compared to more widespread surnames such as Nguyễn or Trần. Individuals bearing the surname Khái have been documented in historical records, particularly among scholars and local officials of the Nguyễn dynasty, where the name sometimes appears with the Chinese character 概 used in official documents.

Geographically, Khái designates several place names in Vietnam. Notably, Khái Định is a township in the Bắc Ninh province, known for its agricultural activity and traditional craft villages. The toponym reflects the common practice of using meaningful Vietnamese words for settlement names, often to convey a characteristic or aspiration of the locality.

In contemporary usage, the term remains a frequent element of Vietnamese academic and media discourse, serving as a concise label for summary sections, abstracts, or introductory outlines in a variety of publications.