tuần chay
Definition
- Noun:
- A period of fasting or abstinence: Specifically refers to a designated week or period, often religious, during which adherents abstain from certain foods, typically meat, as an act of devotion, penance, or spiritual preparation.
- A series of Buddhist ceremonies: In Vietnamese Buddhist context, it denotes a week-long series of rituals and prayers performed for the peace and repose of the soul of a deceased person, often involving a vegetarian diet for the participating family.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Gia đình tôi ăn chay trọn vẹn trong tuần chay. (My family eats vegetarian completely during the fasting week.)
- Tuần chay cho cụ ông sẽ được cử hành vào thứ Hai tới. (The week of ceremonies for the old man will be held next Monday.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often associated with specific religious calendars, such as Lent in Christianity (though "Mùa Chay" is more common for Lent) or with observances in Buddhism and other faiths practiced in Vietnam.
- It implies a temporary but strict observance, distinguishing it from a permanent vegetarian lifestyle ("ăn chay trường").
Variants and Related Words
Ăn chay (v): to eat vegetarian food, to fast from meat.
Mùa Chay (n): Lent (in Christianity).
- Mùa Chay là thời gian chuẩn bị cho Lễ Phục Sinh. (Lent is a period of preparation for Easter.)
Synonyms
- Fast period: A time of abstaining from food.
- Week of observance: A week dedicated to religious rituals.
- Ceremonial week: A week marked by specific rites.
Related Idioms
- Giữ tuần chay: to observe the fasting period.
- Các Phật tử thành tâm giữ tuần chay. (The Buddhists sincerely observe the week of fasting.)