ước nguyền
Definition
- Verb:
- To vow; to pledge: To make a solemn promise or commitment, often involving a personal resolution or a commitment to a higher power or ideal. This is an archaic or literary term.
- To wish earnestly with a promise: To express a deep, heartfelt wish that is coupled with a personal pledge to see it fulfilled or honored.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Họ ước nguyền sẽ trở về thăm quê hương. (They vowed to return to visit their homeland.)
- Cô ấy ước nguyền trước bàn thờ. (She made a vow before the altar.)
- Ước nguyền của họ là sống bên nhau trọn đời. (Their pledge was to live together for life.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "ước nguyền" carries a formal, solemn, and somewhat poetic tone. It is more intense than the simple word (to wish) and implies a binding personal commitment, often used in contexts of love, loyalty, or spiritual devotion.
- It is commonly found in literary works, historical narratives, or in contexts describing traditional ceremonies.
Variants and Related Words
- Ước (v): to wish. A more common and general term for expressing a desire.
- Tôi ước một điều. (I wish for one thing.)
- Nguyện (v): to vow; to pledge. Often used in compound words and carries a similar solemn meaning.
- Nguyện một lòng trung thành. (To vow unwavering loyalty.)
- Lời nguyền (n): a curse. Note: This is a different concept, meaning an invocation for harm or misfortune.
- Lời nguyền cổ xưa. (An ancient curse.)
Synonyms
- Vow: A solemn promise.
- Pledge: A formal promise or commitment.
- Swear: To make a solemn declaration or promise.
- Promise: A declaration that one will do something.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Ước nguyện thành tâm: A sincere vow or heartfelt wish.
- Với ước nguyện thành tâm, cô ấy cầu mong cho sự bình an. (With a sincere vow, she prayed for peace.)
- While not a direct idiom, the concept is central to phrases like "thề nguyền" (to swear an oath), which is a more common modern synonym for making a solemn promise.