cẩu hợp
Definition
- Verb (archaic):
- To cohabit illegally / to live together in an illicit marital union: The term describes a historical situation where a man and a woman live together as spouses without a legal or socially sanctioned marriage.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Hai người ấy đã cẩu hợp với nhau nhiều năm mà không làm lễ cưới. (Those two have been cohabiting illicitly for many years without a wedding ceremony.)
- Theo luật cũ, việc cẩu hợp có thể bị trừng phạt. (According to old law, illicit cohabitation could be punished.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is archaic and carries a strong negative, judgmental connotation from a historical legal or social perspective. It is rarely used in modern Vietnamese, where terms like "chung sống như vợ chồng" (to live together as husband and wife) are neutral and more common.
Word Origin and Notes
- Etymology: The term is derived from Classical Chinese (Hán-Việt). "Cẩu" (苟) means "careless," "improper," or "temporary." "Hợp" (合) means "to join" or "to unite." Thus, the compound implies an improper or careless union.
- Usage Note: Due to its archaic and pejorative nature, using this term in contemporary contexts is inappropriate. It primarily appears in historical texts or discussions of past social customs.
Synonyms
- To cohabit illicitly: To live together as a couple without legal marriage (archaic/formal).
- To live in concubinage: A historical state of a woman living with a man as a wife without legal status.
Related Concepts
- Tảo hôn (n): Child marriage (a different, though historically related, social issue).
- Hôn nhân không giá thú (n): Non-marital union (a modern, legal term).