vuốt mắt
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To close the eyelids (of a deceased person): The primary meaning of "vuốt mắt" is the ceremonial act of gently closing the eyes of someone who has just died. It is a traditional gesture of respect for the deceased, performed to allow them to rest peacefully.
- To be present at someone's deathbed: By extension, the phrase can imply being with someone at the moment of their death, often with the connotation of performing this final duty.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Người thân trong gia đình đã vuốt mắt cho cụ. (The family members closed the eyelids for the elderly person.)
- Ước mong của ông ấy là có con cái vuốt mắt khi ông qua đời. (His wish was to have his children close his eyes when he passes away.)
Advanced Usage
- The act of "vuốt mắt" is deeply embedded in Vietnamese funeral customs and is considered a filial duty and a final act of care.
- It can be used metaphorically in literature to signify the end of something or bringing closure.
Variants and Related Words
- Nhắm mắt (verb phrase): to close one's eyes (can refer to death, e.g., "nhắm mắt xuôi tay" - to die peacefully).
- Khâm liệm (verb): to shroud and prepare a body for burial, a related funeral rite.
Synonyms
- To close the eyes (of the deceased): The direct descriptive synonym in English.
- To perform the last offices: A broader formal term for final acts done for the deceased.
Related Idioms
- Vuốt mắt cho nhau: A saying emphasizing mutual care and the duty to perform this rite for each other, often used to describe deep bonds within a family or community.
- Sống trong làng này, họ thề sẽ vuốt mắt cho nhau. (Living in this village, they vowed to close each other's eyes when the time comes.)