đi bước nữa
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To remarry (said of a woman): The primary meaning refers specifically to a woman marrying again after the end of a previous marriage, whether by widowhood or divorce. It carries a traditional nuance.
- To take another step: The literal, word-for-word translation is "to go another step." This meaning is rarely used in isolation and is almost always understood idiomatically as "to remarry."
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Sau khi chồng mất, bà ấy không muốn đi bước nữa. (After her husband passed away, she did not want to remarry.)
- Chị tôi đã đi bước nữa và hiện tại rất hạnh phúc. (My older sister has remarried and is now very happy.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is inherently gendered and traditionally applies to women. The equivalent for a man is often "lấy vợ khác" (to take another wife) or "tái hôn" (to remarry, neutral but formal).
- It can sometimes imply a sense of moving forward or taking a new step in life after a loss or separation.
Variants and Related Words
Tái hôn (v): to remarry. This is a more modern and gender-neutral formal term.
- Họ đã tái hôn vào năm ngoái. (They remarried last year.)
Lấy chồng khác (v): to marry another husband. A more direct, colloquial phrase for a woman remarrying.
Synonyms
- Remarry: to marry again.
- Marry again: a direct synonym.
Notes on Cultural Context
- The phrase "đi bước nữa" originates from a more traditional societal context. Its specific application to women reflects historical norms.
- While still understood, the more neutral term "tái hôn" is increasingly common in contemporary usage. "Đi bước nữa" may carry subtle, context-dependent connotations about the woman's circumstances or societal expectations.