Definition

1. Noun (Historical / Literary Term):
   • Ritual sharing of the bridal cup of wine: A traditional wedding ritual from ancient Vietnamese custom, performed on the wedding night, where the newlywed bride and groom drink wine together from a shared cup to symbolize their union and the beginning of their marital life.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Lễ hợp cẩn là một nghi thức quan trọng trong đám cưới xưa. (The hợp cẩn ritual was an important ceremony in weddings of the past.)
  • Sau lễ thành hôn, đôi tân hôn sẽ thực hiện nghi lễ hợp cẩn. (After the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds will perform the hợp cẩn ritual.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used in historical, literary, or anthropological contexts to describe traditional marital customs. It is considered an archaic term in modern Vietnamese.

Word Origin and Notes

• Etymology: The word is a compound of "hợp" (to join, to unite) and "cẩn" (an archaic term related to caution, respect, or a ritual act). It directly refers to the ceremonial act of union.
• Status: This term is marked as archaic (từ cũ) and is not used in contemporary everyday language. It appears primarily in texts discussing historical traditions.

Related Terms

• Lễ thành hôn: The main wedding ceremony.
• Lễ tơ hồng: A ritual to honor the matchmaking deity, often part of traditional wedding sequences.

1. (từ cũ; nghĩa cũ) Ritual sharing of the bridal cup of wine (on the wedding night)