Definition

1. Verb:
   • To do a good deed, to perform a charitable act: The primary meaning refers to the act of doing something beneficial or kind for others, often out of compassion or a sense of moral duty, without necessarily expecting a direct return.
   • To do a favor, to show kindness: Used in a similar sense to "làm ơn" (to do a favor), but often with a slightly more formal or moralistic nuance, implying a charitable or benevolent action.
   • To say mass (specific Catholic context): In a specific religious context, it refers to a priest performing a mass at a church that does not have a resident priest.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Ông ấy thường làm phúc bằng cách giúp đỡ người nghèo. (He often does good deeds by helping the poor.)
  • Xin bà làm phúc cho tôi chút nước. (Please, madam, do me the kindness of giving me some water.)
  • Cha xứ sẽ đến làm phúc tại nhà thờ làng vào Chủ nhật. (The parish priest will come to say mass at the village church on Sunday.)

Advanced Usage

• "Làm phúc làm đức": To do good deeds and accumulate virtue. This is a common compound phrase emphasizing charitable acts for spiritual merit.
  • Cụ bà tin rằng làm phúc làm đức sẽ mang lại phước lành. (The old lady believes that doing good deeds and accumulating virtue will bring blessings.)

Variants and Related Words

• Làm ơn (verb): To do a favor, to please (often used in requests). This is a more common and direct synonym for asking a favor.
  • Anh làm ơn giữ im lặng. (Please keep quiet.)
• Phúc đức (noun): Virtue, blessedness, the good karma accumulated from good deeds.
  • Ăn ở hiền lành để tích phúc đức cho con cháu. (Live kindly to accumulate virtue for your descendants.)
• Bố thí (verb): To give alms, to donate (often to the needy or monks).
  • Bà ấy thường bố thí cho các nhà sư. (She often gives alms to monks.)

Synonyms

• Giúp đỡ: To help, to assist.
• Cứu giúp: To aid, to rescue/succor.
• Bác ái: Charitable, benevolent (more formal/literary, often used for organized charity).

Related Phrases

• Ăn ở có phúc: To live a virtuous life (literally: to live and reside with virtue).
  • Cả đời ăn ở có phúc nên cụ được mọi người quý mến. (Having lived a virtuous life, the elder is beloved by everyone.)

Related Idioms

• Làm phúc quá tay: To be overly generous or kind to the point of causing harm or spoiling someone. This idiom warns that excessive charity can have negative consequences.
  • Đừng làm phúc quá tay mà hư con. (Don't be overly indulgent and spoil your child.)
• Ở hiền gặp lành: Those who are kind will meet with good fortune. This proverb reflects the cultural belief associated with doing good deeds (làm phúc).
  • Mẹ tôi luôn dạy ở hiền gặp lành. (My mother always taught that kindness begets good fortune.)