tơ đào
Definition
- Noun (Literary, Archaic):
- The red thread of marriage; the bonds of matrimony: A poetic term referring to the fated or predestined bond between husband and wife, originating from the concept of the "red thread of fate" in East Asian mythology.
- The thread of the peach blossom: A literal, but less common, interpretation meaning the delicate filament of a peach blossom, often used metaphorically for youthful beauty or springtime.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ai xe tơ đào cho chúng tôi? (Who wove the matrimonial thread for us?)
- Mối tơ đào ấy đã bị cắt đứt. (That bond of marriage has been severed.)
- Mái tóc nàng như tơ đào. (Her hair was like peach blossom silk.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively found in classical Vietnamese poetry and literature to evoke themes of destiny, marriage, and sometimes, the fragility of love.
- It is conceptually related to the Chinese legend of the "Old Man of the Moon" (Nguyệt Lão) who ties an invisible red thread around the ankles of those destined to be married.
Variants and Related Words
- Tơ hồng (n): The red thread; a more common synonym for the thread of marriage, directly from the Chinese legend.
- Ông Tơ bà Nguyệt se tơ hồng. (The Deity of Marriage binds the red thread.)
Synonyms
- Matrimonial bond: The connection formed by marriage.
- Red thread of fate: The destined link between two people.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Se tơ đào / xe tơ đào: To bind with the peach-blossom thread; to arrange or predestine a marriage.
- Trời già se tơ đào cho đôi trẻ. (Heaven bound the young couple with the matrimonial thread.)