Definition

1. Noun:
   • A white scarf or cloth: A piece of white fabric, typically square or rectangular, used as a versatile accessory for the head, neck, or shoulders.
   • A symbol of mourning or remembrance: In Vietnamese culture, a white scarf is traditionally worn as a sign of grief, loss, or to commemorate the deceased.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cô ấy quàng một chiếc khăn trắng để giữ ấm cổ. (She wore a white scarf to keep her neck warm.)
  • Trong lễ tang, nhiều người tham dự đeo khăn trắng. (At the funeral, many attendees wore white scarves.)

Advanced Usage

• "khăn trắng tinh": A pure white, immaculately clean scarf, emphasizing its spotless condition.
  • Cô học sinh luôn có một chiếc khăn trắng tinh trong cặp sách. (The student always had a pure white scarf in her school bag.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khăn đen (n): A black scarf, often contrasted with a white scarf in contexts of symbolism (e.g., mourning vs. celebration).
  • Trong văn hóa, khăn đen và khăn trắng mang những ý nghĩa khác nhau. (In culture, black scarves and white scarves carry different meanings.)

Synonyms

• White headscarf: A white cloth for covering the head.
• Mourning scarf: A scarf worn as a symbol of bereavement.

Cultural Note

• The khăn trắng is deeply associated with Vietnamese funeral rites and memorial ceremonies. It is a traditional symbol of purity, respect for the dead, and familial piety. Wearing it signifies the wearer's state of mourning and remembrance.