chạm vía

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chạm vía

Người ta nói không nên khen trẻ con mập mạp quá, sợ chạm vía chúng.

Definition
  1. Verb:
    • To bring bad luck on, to put a jinx on: The act of causing misfortune or an unlucky event to happen to someone, often unintentionally, through one's words, actions, or mere presence, according to superstitious belief.
    • To offend a vital spirit/support: Based on folk belief, this refers to inadvertently harming or disturbing the "vía" (a kind of vital spirit or life force) of a person, especially a vulnerable one like a newborn or sick person, leading to negative consequences for them.
Usage Examples
  • Verb:
    • Mọi người nói đừng khen em bé quá, sợ chạm vía. (People say not to praise the baby too much, for fear of jinxing it.)
    • Cô ấy tin rằng việc mình đến thăm đã chạm vía khiến bệnh nhân trở nặng. (She believes her visit brought bad luck and caused the patient's condition to worsen.)
    • Theo mê tín, người lạ có thể chạm vía trẻ sơ sinh. (According to superstition, strangers can put a jinx on newborns.)
Advanced Usage
  • This term is almost exclusively used in contexts related to Vietnamese folk belief and superstition. It describes an abstract, metaphysical cause of misfortune.
  • It often implies the misfortune is unintentional. The person who "chạm vía" may not be aware they are doing so.
  • Commonly associated with vulnerable individuals: The belief frequently applies to newborns, young children, sick people, or those in a weak state, whose "vía" is considered more susceptible.
Variants and Related Words
  • Vía (n): The superstitious concept of a vital spirit or life force that this action affects. There is no direct single-word English equivalent.
  • Xui (adj/xui xẻo - n): Bad luck, misfortune. This is the general result of "chạm vía."
  • Kiêng kỵ (v/n): To abstain or taboos. People "kiêng kỵ" certain actions to avoid "chạm vía."
Synonyms
  • Đem lại vận xui: To bring bad luck.
  • Gây hạn: To cause a calamity (in a superstitious sense).
  • Làm vía: A less common variant with the same meaning.
Related Phrases / Idioms
  • Chạm vía, chạm mạng: An intensified phrase emphasizing the serious superstitious consequence of affecting someone's life force or destiny.
    • Người già thường cảnh báo đừng chạm vía, chạm mạng trẻ con. (Elders often warn not to jinx or harm the life force of children.)
  • Kiêng không đến thăm sản phụ: A common practice (to avoid visiting a new mother) rooted in the fear of "chạm vía" the mother and baby.
chạm vía

Người ta nói không nên khen trẻ con mập mạp quá, sợ chạm vía chúng.

  1. To bring bad luck on, to put a jinx on