làm trai

Làm trai phải biết giữ chữ tín và có trách nhiệm.

Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To be a true man; to act in a manner worthy of a man: This phrase expresses the traditional ideal of masculinity, emphasizing fulfilling one's duties, demonstrating strength of character, and living up to societal expectations for men. It often implies honor, responsibility, and achievement.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Làm trai cho đáng nên trai. (To be a man, one must be worthy of the name.)
  • Anh ấy luôn cố gắng làm trai, gánh vác mọi việc cho gia đình. (He always strives to be a true man, shouldering all responsibilities for his family.)
  • Theo quan niệm xưa, làm trai phải lập thân, lập nghiệp. (According to old beliefs, to be a man, one must establish oneself and build a career.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase "làm trai" is deeply rooted in Confucian-influenced Vietnamese culture. It is less about biological sex and more about fulfilling a prescribed social role with honor, filial piety, and success. It is often used in proverbs, moral teachings, and classical literature.
• It can carry a motivational or exhortative tone, urging someone to live up to their potential as a man.

Variants and Related Words

• Trai tráng (n): Young men; men in their prime.
  • Những trai tráng trong làng ra trận. (The young men of the village went to war.)
• Đàn ông (n): Man, men (a more general, neutral term for an adult male).
  • Anh ấy là một người đàn ông tốt. (He is a good man.)

Synonyms

• Xứng đáng là đàn ông: To be worthy of being a man.
• Sống cho ra nam nhi: To live up to being a man (a more literary synonym).

Related Idioms

• "Làm trai cho đáng nên trai, Xuống Đông Đông tĩnh, lên Đoài Đoài yên.": A famous proverb meaning "To be a man, one must be worthy of the name, [so that] going East brings calm, going West brings peace." It emphasizes that a true man brings order and stability wherever he goes.
• "Đầu đội trời, chân đạp đất": Literally "Head upholding the sky, feet treading the earth." This idiom describes the ideal of a great man, often associated with the concept of "làm trai".