từ hôn

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To break off an engagement: The primary meaning of "từ hôn" is to formally cancel a promise or agreement to marry after an engagement has been announced or agreed upon by both parties.
   • To call off a marriage: It refers to the act of refusing to proceed with a marriage after one has previously accepted the proposal or commitment.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy đã từ hôn vì không còn tình cảm. (She broke off the engagement because her feelings had changed.)
  • Sau nhiều suy nghĩ, anh ấy quyết định từ hôn. (After much thought, he decided to call off the marriage.)
  • Việc từ hôn đã khiến cả hai gia đình buồn lòng. (The act of breaking the engagement saddened both families.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "từ hôn" specifically implies a reversal of a prior formal or informal agreement to marry. It carries a connotation of formal refusal and is often associated with significant social or familial consequences.

Variants and Related Words

• Hủy hôn (v): to cancel a wedding/engagement. This is a close synonym, though it can sometimes place more emphasis on the act of cancellation itself.
  • Họ đã hủy hôn chỉ một tuần trước đám cưới. (They called off the wedding just one week before the ceremony.)

Synonyms

• Break off an engagement: To end a formal agreement to be married.
• Call off a marriage: To decide not to get married after plans have been made.
• Renounce a betrothal: A more formal term for rejecting a marriage pledge.

Related Idioms

• While "từ hôn" itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, the act is commonly described in phrases like:
  • Từ hôn trong ngày cưới: to jilt someone at the altar.

    • Không ai ngờ cô dâu lại từ hôn trong ngày cưới. (No one expected the bride to jilt the groom at the altar.)