vấn danh
Definition
- Noun:
- Asking for the name: A traditional Vietnamese ceremonial act, specifically within the ritual sequence of a wedding, where the groom's family formally requests the bride's full name and birth details from her family. This exchange of precise personal information is a key step preceding the official betrothal.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Lễ vấn danh là một nghi thức quan trọng trong hôn lễ truyền thống Việt Nam. (The vấn danh ceremony is an important ritual in traditional Vietnamese weddings.)
- Sau khi hoàn thành lễ vấn danh, hai gia đình sẽ tiến tới lễ ăn hỏi. (After completing the vấn danh ceremony, the two families will proceed to the betrothal ceremony.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used in the compound form "lễ vấn danh" (the ceremony). It denotes a specific, formal stage in the traditional "lục lễ" (six rites) matrimonial process.
Variants and Related Words
- Lễ vấn danh (n): The full and standard term for the ceremony.
- Lục lễ (n): The "six rites," the traditional sequence of pre-wedding ceremonies which includes .
- Lễ ăn hỏi (n): The betrothal ceremony, which typically follows .
Synonyms
- Name-asking ceremony: A direct descriptive translation.
- Formal inquiry ritual: Emphasizes its ceremonial and procedural nature.
Cultural Note
- Vấn danh is a historical Confucian-based ritual. Its primary function was to obtain the bride's official name and birth information for the purpose of consulting astrological charts to determine matrimonial compatibility before formalizing the engagement. In modern practice, it is often symbolically combined with other rites.