Meaning
The act of a man marrying
Cultural Background
The 'Three Great Tasks' (Tam đại sự) for a man are buying a buffalo (career), marrying a wife (family), and building a house (stability). In villages, 'cưới vợ' often involves the whole community. The groom's family must bring specific gifts like betel nut and areca (trầu cau) to the bride's house. Young men in cities often delay 'cưới vợ' until they are financially independent, leading to a rising average marriage age. A man will often check with a fortune teller to see if his age is 'good' (hợp tuổi) to 'cưới vợ' in a particular year.
The Gender Rule
Always check the gender of the subject before using 'cưới vợ'.
Avoid for Women
Using 'cưới vợ' for a woman sounds like she is marrying another woman, which might not be what you mean.
Meaning
The act of a man marrying
The Gender Rule
Always check the gender of the subject before using 'cưới vợ'.
Avoid for Women
Using 'cưới vợ' for a woman sounds like she is marrying another woman, which might not be what you mean.
Use 'Lấy' for casual
If you want to sound more like a local in a coffee shop, use 'lấy vợ' instead of 'cưới vợ'.
Handling Pressure
If a relative asks 'Bao giờ cưới vợ?', a polite and common answer is 'Khi nào có duyên cháu sẽ cưới ạ' (When fate comes, I will marry).
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase for a man.
Anh Nam đã 30 tuổi rồi, anh ấy nên ________.
Since 'Anh Nam' is a man, 'cưới vợ' is the most natural and correct choice.
Which sentence is naturally spoken by a Vietnamese mother to her son?
A: Bao giờ con lấy chồng? B: Bao giờ con cưới vợ?
A mother would ask her son 'Bao giờ con cưới vợ?'. 'Lấy chồng' is for daughters.
Complete the dialogue.
Minh: 'Tuần sau mình cưới vợ rồi.' An: '________!'
When someone announces they are getting married, you should congratulate them ('Chúc mừng nhé').
Match the phrase to the person.
1. Đàn ông (Man) 2. Phụ nữ (Woman)
Men 'cưới vợ', women 'lấy chồng'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Marriage Verbs by Gender
The Three Great Tasks of a Man
Career
- • Tậu trâu (Buy a buffalo)
Family
- • Cưới vợ (Marry a wife)
Home
- • Làm nhà (Build a house)
Practice Bank
4 exercisesAnh Nam đã 30 tuổi rồi, anh ấy nên ________.
Since 'Anh Nam' is a man, 'cưới vợ' is the most natural and correct choice.
A: Bao giờ con lấy chồng? B: Bao giờ con cưới vợ?
A mother would ask her son 'Bao giờ con cưới vợ?'. 'Lấy chồng' is for daughters.
Minh: 'Tuần sau mình cưới vợ rồi.' An: '________!'
When someone announces they are getting married, you should congratulate them ('Chúc mừng nhé').
1. Đàn ông (Man) 2. Phụ nữ (Woman)
Men 'cưới vợ', women 'lấy chồng'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsYes, if a man is marrying another man, you can still say 'cưới vợ' if you are following traditional roles, but 'kết hôn' or 'lấy nhau' is much more common and appropriate.
'Cưới' emphasizes the ceremony and the formal act, while 'lấy' is more casual and focuses on the result of having a wife.
It is neutral. It's fine for most situations, but 'kết hôn' is the official/formal term.
In Vietnamese culture, marriage is seen as a sign of maturity and a way to continue the family line, so it's a common topic of concern for elders.
It's grammatically okay but sounds a bit redundant. Just 'Anh ấy cưới vợ' is enough.
Related Phrases
Lấy vợ
similarTo get a wife
Lấy chồng
contrastTo get a husband
Kết hôn
synonymTo marry
Lập gia đình
builds onTo start a family
Ăn hỏi
specialized formEngagement ceremony
