xin cưới
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To ask for someone's hand in marriage: The formal act of a man (and often his family) proposing marriage to a woman by making an official request to her and her parents or family.
- To propose marriage (in a formal, traditional context): Refers specifically to the traditional Vietnamese ceremony or process where the groom's family visits the bride's family to formally propose and discuss wedding plans.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Anh ấy đã đến nhà cô ấy để xin cưới. (He went to her house to ask for her hand in marriage.)
- Gia đình nhà trai chuẩn bị lễ vật để sang nhà gái xin cưới. (The groom's family prepared gifts to go to the bride's family for the marriage proposal ceremony.)
- Sau ba năm yêu nhau, cuối cùng anh ta cũng xin cưới. (After three years of dating, he finally proposed.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase "xin cưới" is deeply embedded in traditional Vietnamese wedding customs, known as (the asking ceremony). It is a formal family event, distinct from a personal marriage proposal between the couple.
- It often implies not just the act of asking, but the initiation of formal marriage negotiations between two families.
Variants and Related Words
Lễ hỏi (n): The engagement ceremony, which is the formal event where "xin cưới" takes place.
- Lễ hỏi sẽ được tổ chức vào cuối tuần này. (The engagement ceremony will be held this weekend.)
Hỏi vợ (v): A synonymous, colloquial phrase for a man to ask to marry a woman.
- Anh ấy đang tính chuyện hỏi vợ. (He is planning to ask for her hand in marriage.)
Synonyms
- To propose marriage (formally): To make a formal offer of marriage.
- To ask for someone's hand: To request permission to marry someone, typically from their parents.
Related Cultural Concepts
Lễ cưới (n): The wedding ceremony itself, which follows after the successful "xin cưới."
- Lễ cưới của họ được tổ chức rất long trọng. (Their wedding ceremony was held very grandly.)
Dạm ngõ (n): A preliminary, less formal meeting between families before the official "lễ hỏi" (xin cưới).
- Hai gia đình đã tiến hành lễ dạm ngõ vào tháng trước. (The two families conducted the initial meeting last month.)