Definition

1. Verb:
   • To pay a visit of condolence: The primary meaning of "viếng" is to formally visit a place where a deceased person is lying in state (such as before a coffin or at a funeral home) or to visit a grave, especially to express sympathy and respect to the bereaved family.
   • To pay a respectful visit (to a place of reverence): In a broader, more formal or literary context, "viếng" can mean to visit a sacred or historically significant site (like a temple, shrine, or monument) with a sense of reverence or homage.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cả gia đình đến viếng ông nội. (The whole family came to pay their respects to their grandfather [at his funeral].)
  • Hàng nghìn người đã đến viếng lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh. (Thousands of people have visited President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum.)
  • Chúng tôi vào viếng chùa. (We entered to visit the pagoda [in a respectful manner].)

Advanced Usage

• "viếng thăm": This compound is sometimes used, blending "viếng" (respectful visit) with "thăm" (to visit), often for visiting places of historical or cultural importance.
  • Đoàn khách nước ngoài viếng thăm Văn Miếu. (The foreign delegation paid a visit to the Temple of Literature.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đi viếng (v): to go to pay respects (at a funeral or grave).

  • Mẹ tôi đi viếng một người bạn cũ. (My mother went to pay her respects to an old friend [who passed away].)

• Lễ viếng (n): the condolence visit or ceremony; visiting hours during a funeral.

  • Lễ viếng bắt đầu từ 8 giờ sáng. (The visitation hours begin at 8 a.m.)

Synonyms

• To pay one's respects: To express esteem or regard, especially to the deceased or their family.
• To visit (in a formal/condolence context): To go to see a person or place, specifically for mourning or reverence.
• To pay a condolence call: A formal visit to offer sympathy.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Viếng mộ: to visit a grave/tomb.

  • Mỗi năm, vào ngày giỗ, con cháu đều về viếng mộ. (Every year, on the death anniversary, the descendants return to visit the grave.)

• Viếng người chết: to visit the deceased (a direct way to refer to the act of attending a wake or funeral visitation).

  • Việc đầu tiên là phải đi viếng người chết. (The first thing to do is to go visit the deceased.)