khất thực

Definition

Verb:
- To beg for food, to seek alms (specifically food): "khất thực" refers to the act of asking for food, traditionally and specifically associated with Buddhist monks and nuns who go on alms rounds as a spiritual practice.
- To live by begging for sustenance: It describes a lifestyle or practice of obtaining daily nourishment through solicitation, often with a religious or ascetic connotation.

Usage Examples

Verb:
- Các nhà sư đi khất thực vào mỗi buổi sáng. (The monks go to beg for food every morning.)
- Hành động khất thực là một phần trong quá trình tu tập của họ. (The act of seeking alms is part of their spiritual training.)

Advanced Usage

"đi khất thực": to go on an alms round; to go out to beg for food.
- Vị sư già vẫn đi khất thực trong làng. (The elderly monk still goes on alms rounds in the village.)
The term is often used in historical or religious contexts and carries a more specific, less pejorative meaning than the general word for begging ("ăn xin").

Variants and Related Words

Khất sĩ (noun): A mendicant; a religious ascetic who lives by begging, often used interchangeably for Buddhist monks.
- Cộng đồng khất sĩ. (The community of mendicants.)
Hành khất (verb/noun): To beg / a beggar. This is a more general term for begging and can imply secular begging.
- Anh ta phải hành khất để sống. (He had to beg to survive.)

Synonyms

Notes on Meaning

Primary Meaning: The core meaning of "khất thực" is specifically "to beg for food" ("thực" means food). It is not used for begging money or other items.
Cultural/Religious Context: In Vietnamese culture, this word is deeply tied to Theravada Buddhist practice, where monks collect food offerings. It is viewed as an act that allows laypeople to make merit, not merely as begging.
Archaic Label: The notation "(cũ)" indicates the word is considered somewhat archaic or literary in modern everyday Vietnamese but remains perfectly current in religious and historical discussions.