thụ trai
Definition
- Verb:
- To observe a vegetarian fast / to partake of a vegetarian meal: The primary meaning of "thụ trai" is the act of consuming a vegetarian meal, typically as part of a religious observance, spiritual practice, or on specific ceremonial days within Buddhism and other traditions.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Các Phật tử thành tâm thụ trai vào ngày rằm. (Devout Buddhists sincerely observe a vegetarian fast on the full moon day.)
- Sau khi dâng lễ, mọi người cùng nhau thụ trai tại chùa. (After offering prayers, everyone partook of the vegetarian meal together at the pagoda.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is formal and specifically used in religious or solemn contexts. It implies a conscious, respectful act of receiving and eating vegetarian food for spiritual purposes, rather than simply describing the act of eating vegetables in a daily diet.
Variants and Related Words
- Ăn chay (v): to eat vegetarian food. This is the common, everyday phrase for following a vegetarian diet.
- Bà tôi ăn chay trường. (My grandmother is a permanent vegetarian.)
Synonyms
- To partake of a vegetarian meal: To eat a meal without meat, often in a formal or ceremonial setting.
- To observe a vegetarian fast: To abstain from meat and sometimes other animal products for religious reasons.
Notes on Usage
- "Thụ trai" is a Sino-Vietnamese compound word ("thụ" meaning to receive, and "trai" meaning vegetarian food/fast). It carries a more formal and ritualistic connotation than the common phrase "ăn chay."
- It is almost exclusively used in contexts related to Buddhism, temple ceremonies, or formal religious practice.