dạm mặt

dạm mặt

Gia đình nhà trai sẽ sang nhà gái để dạm mặt vào cuối tuần này.

Definition
  1. Verb:
    • To have a formal meeting between two families to officially propose marriage: "dạm mặt" refers to a traditional Vietnamese ceremony where the groom's family visits the bride's family to formally propose marriage and for the prospective couple to meet in an official capacity. It is the first major step in the traditional marriage process, preceding the engagement ("ăn hỏi").
Usage Examples
  • Verb:
    • Gia đình nhà trai sẽ sang nhà gái để dạm mặt vào cuối tuần này. (The groom's family will go to the bride's family's house to have the formal proposal meeting this weekend.)
    • Sau khi hai người quyết định cưới nhau, lễ dạm mặt đã được tổ chức rất trang trọng. (After the two decided to marry, the formal proposal ceremony was held very solemnly.)
    • Ngày xưa, đôi trai gái thường chỉ gặp nhau lần đầu trong lễ dạm mặt. (In the old days, the young couple would often meet for the first time at the formal proposal ceremony.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Lễ dạm mặt": The formal proposal ceremony itself.
    • Lễ dạm mặt thường diễn ra với sự có mặt của đại diện hai họ. (The formal proposal ceremony usually takes place with representatives from both families present.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Dạm ngõ: A simpler, often more informal, initial visit by the groom's family to the bride's family to express intent and learn about each other. It can sometimes be considered a precursor to "dạm mặt."
    • Họ đã làm lễ dạm ngõ từ tháng trước. (They had the initial visit ceremony last month.)
  • Hỏi cưới / Ăn hỏi: The official engagement ceremony, which is a later, more elaborate step following "dạm mặt."
  • Cưới: The wedding.
Synonyms
  • Đính hôn (verb): To get engaged. (Note: This refers to the engagement itself, which is a later stage.)
  • Ngỏ lời (verb): To propose. (A more general term for expressing marriage intent.)
Related Phrases
  • Đi dạm mặt: To go to perform the formal proposal ceremony.
    • Ông bà nội sẽ cùng đi dạm mặt với bố mẹ anh ấy. (His paternal grandparents will go along for the formal proposal ceremony with his parents.)
Related Idioms