Definition

1. 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.)