gặp gái
Definition
- Verb phrase (superstition):
- To encounter a woman (as an omen): The superstitious belief that meeting a woman first thing when leaving the house is a sign of bad luck or an unlucky start to the day's endeavors.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Sáng nay tôi gặp gái ngay khi vừa bước chân ra khỏi nhà. (This morning, I encountered a woman the moment I stepped out of the house.)
- Anh ấy rất kiêng gặp gái vì cho là điềm xui. (He is very wary of encountering a woman because he considers it an unlucky omen.)
Advanced Usage
- This phrase is almost exclusively used in the context of traditional Vietnamese superstition. It reflects a specific, now largely outdated, folk belief and is not used in modern, non-superstitious contexts to simply mean "to meet a woman."
Cultural Note
- The belief stems from archaic gender stereotypes that considered women, in this specific superstitious context, as potential bearers of bad luck for a man's important tasks or journeys if met at the outset. The phrase is rarely used literally today but may be referenced when discussing superstitions or used humorously.
Synonyms
- To have an unlucky encounter (superstitious): To meet someone or something believed to portend misfortune.
Related Idioms
- Ra ngõ gặp gái: Literally "to step out the gate and meet a woman." This idiom encapsulates the full superstitious notion of starting the day with bad luck.
- Hôm nay định đi ký hợp đồng, nào ngờ ra ngõ gặp gái. (I planned to go sign a contract today, but who would have thought I'd step out and encounter a woman [an unlucky omen].)