vía van
Definition
- Noun:
- Vital support or life force: In Vietnamese folk belief, "vía van" refers to a person's essential spiritual or vital support, the foundation of their life force and well-being. It is considered delicate and vulnerable to negative influences.
- A superstitious concept of vitality: It denotes a metaphysical concept where a person's health, fortune, and vitality are supported by an intangible force that can be weakened or damaged.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Người ta nói đừng làm trẻ con giật mình, sợ vía van. (People say not to startle children, for fear of harming their vital support.)
- Sau cơn bệnh, vía van của ông ấy có vẻ yếu đi. (After the illness, his life force seems to have weakened.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used in the context of folk superstition and traditional belief, often related to protecting young children or convalescing individuals from shocks or frights that could damage this vital force.
Variants and Related Words
- Vía (n): a more common term for the spiritual "soul" or "vital spirit" associated with a person. "Vía van" is a specific, intensified compound of this concept.
- Trẻ con thường được cho là có vía yếu. (Children are often considered to have a weak vital spirit.)
Synonyms
- Vital force: The energy that sustains life.
- Life essence: The fundamental spiritual principle of life.
Related Idioms
- Sợ vía van: To fear harming the vital support. This is the most common phrase incorporating the term.
- Bà nội luôn nhắc nhở phải nhẹ nhàng, sợ vía van cháu bé. (The grandmother always reminds us to be gentle, for fear of harming the baby's vital support.)