The Vietnamese word "chiết quang" translates to "refringent" in English. It is an adjective used primarily in scientific contexts, particularly in physics and optics.
"Chiết quang" refers to the property of a material that causes light to change direction as it passes through it. This change in direction is due to the varying speed of light in different materials. For example, when light travels from air into water, it bends. This bending effect is a result of the refringent properties of water.
In advanced contexts, "chiết quang" can relate to concepts such as birefringence, which is a property of some materials that have different refractive indices based on the polarization and direction of light.
While "chiết quang" primarily refers to the bending of light, it can also be used metaphorically in literature or discussions about perception, indicating how different perspectives can change understanding or interpretation.