Definition

Verb: - To gather together, to reunite: Refers to the act of family members, relatives, or close friends coming together, often after a period of separation, in a warm, happy, and intimate atmosphere. - To live together under one roof: Implies cohabitation, typically of multiple generations or family members, in harmony and closeness.

Usage

This word is used to describe a warm, happy, and intimate gathering or cohabitation, most commonly within a family context. It carries a strong emotional connotation of joy, affection, and completeness. - It is often used for family reunions, especially during traditional holidays like Tết (Lunar New Year). - It describes not just physical proximity but also emotional closeness and harmony.

Examples

• (The whole family gathers together to celebrate Tet.)
• (After many years apart, they finally reunited.)
• (The grandparents' dream is to see their children and grandchildren living together happily.)

Advanced Usage

• "sum họp": A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "sum vầy" to mean reunion or gathering. The nuance is nearly identical, though "sum vầy" might slightly emphasize the warm, cozy atmosphere.
• "đoàn tụ": Means to reunite, especially after a long or forced separation. It can be used in more formal or dramatic contexts (e.g., war, migration), while "sum vầy" focuses more on the joyful, intimate nature of the gathering itself.

Variants and Related Words

• Sum họp (verb): To reunite, to gather. (Gia đình sum họp.)
• Đoàn tụ (verb): To reunite (often after separation). (Gia đình đoàn tụ sau chiến tranh.)
• Đoàn viên (noun/adjective): Reunion; united. (Cảnh đoàn viên.)

Synonyms

• Tụ họp: To assemble, to congregate (more general, less emotional).
• Quây quần: To sit/stand closely together in a circle, often for a meal or conversation (emphasizes physical closeness in a group).
• Hội ngộ: To meet again (can be used for friends or colleagues, not exclusively family).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Sum vầy hạnh phúc": To live together happily.
• "Cảnh sum vầy" / "Cảnh đoàn tụ": The scene/sight of a happy reunion.
• While "sum vầy" itself is not typically part of a larger phrasal verb structure, it is the core of many descriptive phrases about family and togetherness.

verb

1. to gather, to live together