Definition

1. Verb:
   • To depart; to set out on a journey. This is the general meaning, indicating the act of leaving a place, especially to begin a trip.
   • To make the first departure of the Lunar New Year. This is a specific cultural and traditional meaning. It refers to the ritualistic first outing from home after the New Year's Eve, performed at an auspicious time and in a favorable direction to invite luck, prosperity, and success for the coming year.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Sau bữa sáng, đoàn thám hiểm bắt đầu xuất hành. (After breakfast, the expedition team began their journey.)
  • Theo phong tục, gia đình tôi thường xuất hành vào sáng mồng Một Tết. (According to tradition, my family usually makes the first New Year's departure on the morning of the first day of Tet.)
  • Năm nay, hướng xuất hành tốt lành là hướng Nam. (This year, the auspicious direction for the first departure is the South.)

Advanced Usage

• "Giờ xuất hành": The auspicious hour for the first departure.
  • Mọi người tra cứu lịch để chọn giờ xuất hành hợp với tuổi. (People consult almanacs to choose an auspicious departure hour compatible with their zodiac sign.)
• "Lễ xuất hành": The ritual or ceremony of the first departure.
  • Ông bà thực hiện lễ xuất hành rất trang nghiêm. (The grandparents performed the first departure ceremony very solemnly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ra khỏi nhà (v): To leave the house. (A more general, non-ritualistic phrase).
• Lên đường (v): To hit the road, to set off.
• Khởi hành (v): To depart, to commence a journey (often used for vehicles or scheduled trips).

Synonyms

• Depart: to leave, especially to start a journey.
• Set out: to begin a journey.
• Embark: to begin a journey or venture.

Related Cultural Concepts

• Xông đất / Xông nhà: The first person to visit a home in the new year, believed to set the tone for the household's fortune. This is related to "xuất hành" as both are important Tet customs for attracting luck.
• Ngày lành tháng tốt: An auspicious day. Choosing a "ngày lành tháng tốt" is crucial for important events like "xuất hành," weddings, or opening a business.
• Hướng tốt / Hướng xấu: Auspicious and inauspicious directions. The direction for "xuất hành" is carefully selected based on this belief.

verb

1. to go out