đón hỏi
Definition
- Verb:
- To welcome and inquire / To greet and ask after: A traditional Vietnamese social verb describing the polite act of receiving visitors and immediately asking about their well-being, news, or the purpose of their visit as a form of respectful attention and courtesy.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Khi khách đến nhà, chúng ta nên đón hỏi niềm nở. (When guests come to the house, we should welcome them warmly and ask after them.)
- Ông chủ đứng dậy đón hỏi vị đối tác mới. (The boss stood up to greet and inquire after the new partner.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "đón hỏi" often implies a formal or culturally expected courtesy, especially towards elders, guests, or important visitors. It combines the physical act of welcoming (đón) with the verbal act of showing concern (hỏi).
Variants and Related Words
Đón tiếp (v): to receive, to welcome (guests). This focuses more on the act of welcoming itself.
- Công ty cử người ra đón tiếp đoàn khách. (The company sent someone to receive the delegation.)
Hỏi thăm (v): to ask after someone, to inquire about someone's health or situation.
- Tôi gọi điện để hỏi thăm sức khỏe bà ngoại. (I called to ask after my grandmother's health.)
Synonyms
- To receive and inquire: A direct translation of the combined action.
- To greet solicitously: To greet with earnest care or concern.
Related Cultural Concepts
- Lễ đón hỏi (n): A specific traditional Vietnamese pre-wedding ceremony where the groom's family formally visits the bride's family to ask for permission to marry and present betrothal gifts. While the core term is the same, this is a fixed noun phrase for a ritual.
- Lễ đón hỏi của họ được tổ chức rất trang trọng. (Their betrothal ceremony was organized very solemnly.)