kiêng kị
Definition
Verb:
- To abstain from; to avoid: To deliberately refrain from doing, using, or consuming something, often due to custom, belief, or health reasons.
- To observe a taboo: To act in accordance with a prohibition based on social, cultural, or superstitious beliefs.
Noun:
- A taboo; a prohibition: Something that is forbidden or avoided by social custom, often for religious, cultural, or superstitious reasons.
Usage Examples
Verb:
- Bà bầu thường kiêng kị ăn một số loại hải sản. (Pregnant women often abstain from eating certain types of seafood.)
- Theo phong tục, chúng tôi kiêng kị quét nhà vào ngày mùng một Tết. (According to custom, we avoid sweeping the house on the first day of the Lunar New Year.)
Noun:
- Việc không được huýt sáo ban đêm là một kiêng kị phổ biến. (Not being allowed to whistle at night is a common taboo.)
- Mỗi vùng miền có những kiêng kị riêng về ẩm thực. (Each region has its own dietary taboos.)
Advanced Usage
- "kiêng kị lẫn nhau": to be mutually incompatible or contraindicated (often used in traditional medicine or regarding foods).
- Mật ong và đậu phụ được cho là kiêng kị lẫn nhau. (Honey and tofu are considered to be mutually incompatible.)
Variants and Related Words
Kiêng cữ (v): to abstain strictly, often for medical reasons (e.g., post-surgery, during illness).
- Bệnh nhân sau mổ phải kiêng cữ thức ăn nhiều dầu mỡ. (Post-operative patients must abstain from greasy food.)
Điều kiêng kị (n): a taboo matter; a prohibition.
- Điều kiêng kị lớn nhất là không được phép nói tên của một vị thần. (The greatest taboo is not being allowed to speak a god's name.)
Synonyms
- Avoid: to keep away from.
- Abstain: to refrain deliberately.
- Taboo: a social or cultural prohibition.
Related Idioms
- Kiêng như kiêng tà: to avoid something as if avoiding an evil spirit (emphasizes extreme caution or avoidance).
- Ông ấy kiêng rượu bia như kiêng tà sau cơn bạo bệnh. (He avoids alcohol as if avoiding an evil spirit after his serious illness.)