thiêu hoá

Người ta thiêu hoá vàng mã trong một chiếc lò nhỏ.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To ritually burn votive paper offerings: The primary meaning of "thiêu hoá" refers to the ceremonial act of burning paper replicas of money, goods, or other items as an offering to spirits or ancestors in some Vietnamese traditional beliefs.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Gia đình thiêu hoá vàng mã cho người đã khuất. (The family ritually burns votive paper offerings for the deceased.)
  • Lễ xong, họ tiến hành thiêu hoá. (After the ceremony, they proceed to burn the offerings.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is specific to cultural and religious contexts. It implies a ritualistic purpose rather than simple destruction by fire.

Variants and Related Words

• Đốt vàng mã (v): to burn votive paper; a more common, colloquial phrase with the same meaning.
  • Mọi người tụ tập để đốt vàng mã. (People gathered to burn votive paper.)

Synonyms

• To burn offerings: to set fire to items as a religious or ceremonial act.
• To make a votive burning: to perform the ritual of burning symbolic items.

Notes on Usage

• "Thiêu hoá" is considered a somewhat literary or formal term and is less common in everyday speech than "đốt vàng mã." It carries a specific cultural connotation and is not used for general burning or incineration.