Definition

Verb: - To act as a matchmaker, to arrange a marriage: The action of acting as an intermediary, introducing a man and a woman to each other with the intention of facilitating their marriage.

Usage

• The verb "làm mai" describes the specific role of a person who connects two single people for the purpose of marriage. It is a formal and traditional role.
• It is often used in the context of traditional Vietnamese marriage customs.
• Structure: Subject + làm mai + (for someone).

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Bà ấy thường làm mai cho các cặp đôi trẻ trong làng. (She often acts as a matchmaker for young couples in the village.)
  • Anh ấy nhờ người bạn thân làm mai giới thiệu với cô gái đó. (He asked his close friend to act as a matchmaker and introduce him to that girl.)

Advanced Usage

• "đi làm mai": to go to act as a matchmaker (emphasizing the action).
  • Sáng mai bà cụ sẽ đi làm mai cho con trai hàng xóm. (Tomorrow morning, the old lady will go to act as a matchmaker for the neighbor's son.)

Variants and Related Words

• Làm mối (Verb): A more common synonym for "làm mai", also meaning to act as a matchmaker or intermediary.
  • Ông ấy chuyên làm mối cho mọi người. (He specializes in matchmaking for people.)
• Ông mai/bà mai (Noun): The male matchmaker ("ông mai") or female matchmaker ("bà mai").
  • Nhờ có bà mai giỏi giang mà đám cưới đã được tổ chức. (Thanks to a skilled female matchmaker, the wedding was held.)
• Mối lái (Noun): Broker, intermediary (can be used in broader contexts like business, but also in marriage).
• Người mai mối (Noun): Matchmaker (person).

Synonyms

• Giới thiệu (Verb): To introduce. (Note: This is more general and does not specifically imply marriage arrangements.)
• Kết nối (Verb): To connect. (Note: This is a modern, general term for connecting people.)

Related Idioms/Phrases

• (Được) nhờ vả làm mai: To be asked/entrusted to be a matchmaker.
  • Anh ta được nhờ vả làm mai vì mọi người đều tin tưởng. (He was asked to be the matchmaker because everyone trusts him.)
• Công việc làm mai: The work of matchmaking.
  • Công việc làm mai đòi hỏi sự khéo léo và uy tín. (The work of matchmaking requires tact and credibility.)

1. Act as a matchmaker