Definition

1. Noun:

   • A matchmaker: A person who acts as an intermediary to arrange or facilitate a marriage, or, more broadly, a romantic relationship.
   • The act of matchmaking: The process or action of acting as a go-between to arrange a marriage or relationship.

2. Verb:

   • To act as a matchmaker: To serve as an intermediary to arrange a marriage or introduce potential romantic partners.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Person):
  • Bà ấy là một mai mối rất có tiếng trong làng. (She is a very well-known matchmaker in the village.)
  • Anh ta nhờ một người mai mối để tìm vợ. (He asked a matchmaker to find a wife.)
• Noun (Act):
  • Công việc mai mối đòi hỏi sự khéo léo. (The work of matchmaking requires tact.)
• Verb:
  • Cô ấy thích mai mối cho bạn bè. (She likes to act as a matchmaker for her friends.)
  • Ông cụ đã mai mối thành công cho nhiều đôi. (The old man has successfully matched many couples.)

Advanced Usage

• "làm mai mối": This is a common verb phrase that explicitly means "to perform the role of a matchmaker." It emphasizes the action.
  • Bà tôi thường làm mai mối cho các cháu trong họ. (My grandmother often acts as a matchmaker for her grandchildren in the clan.)
• "chuyện mai mối": Refers to the matter or business of matchmaking.
  • Chuyện mai mối này cần phải bàn kỹ. (This matter of matchmaking needs to be discussed carefully.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mối (n): This is the core word meaning "connection," "intermediary," or "agent." "Mai mối" combines "mai" (an old word for matchmaker) with "mối."
  • Anh ấy là mối buôn bán gỗ. (He is a timber broker/agent.)
• Làm mối (v): A simpler, more colloquial synonym for "mai mối" (verb).
  • Ai sẽ làm mối trong đám cưới này? (Who will be the matchmaker for this wedding?)

Synonyms

• Người làm mối (n): matchmaker (literally "person who makes the connection").
• Trung gian (n): intermediary, go-between (a more general term, not specific to marriage).
• Ghép đôi (v): to pair up, to matchmake (can be used more broadly for any pairing).

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Đứt mối: Literally "to break the connection." It means a matchmaking attempt or a deal facilitated by an intermediary has failed.
  • Vụ mai mối đó đã đứt mối vì hai người không hợp tính. (That matchmaking attempt fell through because the two were incompatible.)
• Có mối: To have a connection or a potential match.
  • Con gái bà ấy có mối chưa? (Has her daughter got a prospect yet?)

noun

1. match-maker