Definition

1. Verb:
   • To give (a daughter) in marriage; to marry off (a daughter): The act of a parent (traditionally the father) arranging and consenting to their daughter's marriage, formally transferring her to her husband's family. This term carries a traditional, often patriarchal connotation, implying the daughter is the object being "given."

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Ông ấy muốn gả chồng cho con gái trước khi qua đời. (He wants to marry off his daughter before he passes away.)
  • Trong xã hội xưa, cha mẹ thường gả chồng cho con gái từ rất sớm. (In the old society, parents often married off their daughters at a very young age.)
  • Bà ấy không muốn gả chồng cho con gái theo kiểu sắp đặt. (She does not want to give her daughter in marriage in an arranged manner.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "gả chồng" is specifically used for daughters. The equivalent action for a son is "cưới vợ" (to take a wife).
• It often implies a formal, traditional ceremony and arrangement, not a modern love marriage decided solely by the couple.
• It can be used in a neutral, descriptive sense or, in modern contexts, critically to highlight outdated customs.

Variants and Related Words

• Gả (verb): A shorter, more general form meaning "to give in marriage." "Gả chồng" is a more explicit compound of this verb.
• Gả bán (verb): To marry off (often implying a transaction or a forced marriage for money/benefit). This has a strongly negative connotation.
• Cưới hỏi (verb/noun): The general process of marriage, including ceremonies and rituals for both sides.

Synonyms

• Lấy chồng cho (con gái): To get a husband for (a daughter). A more modern phrasing with a similar meaning.
• Kết hôn cho (con gái): To arrange a marriage for (a daughter). A formal, neutral synonym.

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Gả bán như hàng hoá: To marry off (someone) as if they were merchandise. An idiom criticizing treating marriage as a purely economic transaction.
• Cha mẹ đặt đâu con ngồi đấy: A proverb meaning "Parents decide where, children sit there," often used in the context of arranged marriages, including "gả chồng."