Definition

1. Noun:
   • The five fruits: A traditional Vietnamese arrangement of five types of fruit placed on the ancestral altar during holidays, especially Tết (Lunar New Year). The selection symbolizes prayers for prosperity, luck, and fulfillment. Common fruits include banana, orange, kumquat, pomelo, and Buddha's hand citron, but the specific types can vary by region and family.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Mâm ngũ quả trên bàn thờ rất đẹp. (The five-fruit tray on the altar is very beautiful.)
  • Gia đình tôi chuẩn bị ngũ quả để cúng ông bà. (My family prepares the five fruits to offer to our ancestors.)

Advanced Usage

• The concept of "ngũ quả" is deeply symbolic. The number five represents the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth) and the wish for a bountiful, balanced life. The fruits are chosen for their names, colors, and shapes, which carry auspicious meanings.

Variants and Related Words

• Mâm ngũ quả (n): The tray or plate holding the arrangement of the five fruits.
  • Mẹ tôi bày mâm ngũ quả lên bàn thờ. (My mother displays the five-fruit tray on the altar.)

Synonyms

• Five-fruit tray: A direct descriptive translation.
• Ritual fruit offering: Highlights its ceremonial purpose.

Related Cultural Concepts

• "Ngũ" (five): Represents the five elements and is a number of balance and completeness in Vietnamese philosophy.
• "Quả" (fruit): Symbolizes the results, achievements, and blessings that one hopes to receive.
• The practice is a key part of "cúng" (ancestral veneration) during Tết.

1. The five fruits (banana, oranges, kumquats, pomelos, finger citrons)