Definition

1. Verb phrase: - To share and eat the offerings: The specific action of distributing and consuming the mooncakes, fruits, and sweets that have been displayed on an altar during the Mid-Autumn Festival (Tết Trung Thu), especially for children.

Usage

• phá cỗ describes the central, joyful activity of the Mid-Autumn Festival where the displayed feast is finally enjoyed.
• It implies a communal, celebratory breaking and sharing of the ceremonial food after it has been offered.
• The subject is typically the adults who (distribute) for the children, or the children/community who (partake in eating).

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Sau khi cúng trăng, cả gia đình cùng nhau phá cỗ. (After making offerings to the moon, the whole family shares and eats the festival treats together.)
  • Trẻ em háo hức chờ đợi giây phút được phá cỗ. (The children eagerly await the moment they get to eat the festival sweets.)
  • Ông bà sẽ là người phá cỗ và chia bánh kẹo cho các cháu. (The grandparents will be the ones to deal out and share the cakes and candies for the grandchildren.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase phá cỗ is almost exclusively used in the context of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Its meaning is culturally specific and does not apply to sharing food from other types of feasts or altars.
• It carries a connotation of ritual, celebration, and communal joy, marking the transition from display and offering to consumption and enjoyment.

Variants and Related Words

• Bày cỗ (verb phrase): To arrange and display the offerings (mooncakes, fruits, toys) on an altar for the Mid-Autumn Festival. This is the action that precedes .
• Cỗ Trung thu (noun phrase): The Mid-Autumn Festival feast/spread itself, which is the object of (displaying) and (sharing/eating).

Synonyms

• Chia đồ cúng (verb phrase): To share the worship offerings. This is a more general term that can be used for other ceremonies, whereas is specific to the Mid-Autumn Festival.
• Thưởng thức cỗ Trung thu (verb phrase): To enjoy the Mid-Autumn feast. This focuses more on the eating aspect rather than the act of distributing.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Vui như Tết Trung thu, rước đèn phá cỗ: (As joyful as the Mid-Autumn Festival, parading with lanterns and sharing the feast.) This common saying highlights as one of the two quintessential joyful activities of the festival, alongside the lantern procession (rước đèn).

1. Deal out (serve out) a mid-autumn festival cake and fruit