Definition

Verb: - To return a portion of the wedding/engagement gifts: The traditional custom of returning a part of the betrothal or wedding gifts (such as food, offerings) to the person or family who presented them, as a gesture of politeness, reciprocity, and to share the fortune.

Usage

• Verb: The action is typically performed by the family of the bride or groom during the engagement or wedding ceremony.
  • The groom's family brought many trays of betel and areca as engagement gifts; following custom, the bride's family will lại quả a portion.
  • In the past, to lại quả was an indispensable ritual in wedding ceremonies.

Advanced Usage

• The concept of lại quả is deeply rooted in Vietnamese folk culture and Confucian rituals, reflecting the principle of "có đi có lại" (reciprocity). It is not merely a material return but a symbolic act of sharing happiness and maintaining harmonious relationships between the two families.
• This custom is now considered old-fashioned (cũ) and is less commonly practiced in modern urban weddings, though it may still be observed in traditional ceremonies or in certain regions.

Variants and Related Words

• Lễ lại quả (Noun Phrase): The specific portion of gifts that is returned; the act of returning the gifts itself.
  • The lễ lại quả usually includes a share of the sticky rice, pork, and wine.
• Lễ sêu, Lễ hỏi, Lễ cưới (Noun Phrases): Engagement gifts, betrothal ceremony gifts, and wedding gifts, respectively. These are the items to which lại quả applies.

Synonyms

• Hoàn lễ (Verb): A more formal or literary term with a similar meaning of returning a portion of ceremonial gifts.
• Tặng lại một phần (Verb Phrase): To give back a part (a more general, non-ritualistic phrase).

Notes on Meaning

• The term lại quả is specific to the context of traditional Vietnamese wedding customs. It does not apply to general gift-giving in other situations.
• The "quả" (fruit/gift) here refers specifically to the ceremonial offerings presented during the engagement (lễ hỏi) or wedding (lễ cưới).

1. (cũ) Portion reserved for the people who had brought engagement (wedding) offering