Culture and Traditions

Confucian philosophy/value/thought

Tư tưởng/giá trị/triết lý Nho giáo

Eg:Even in modern corporations, Confucian values continue to affect leadership styles and workplace behavior.

The Confucian ideal of the “gentleman” (junzi) promotes self-cultivation and lifelong learning.

Confucian thought shaped education systems across East Asia, where teachers are highly respected.

Resurrect(v)

Hồi sinh,làm sống lại cái gìsau khi đã biến mất/bị lãng quên

Eg:Scientists are attempting to resurrect extinct species using genetic engineering

He’s trying to resurrect his YouTube channel after two years of inactivity.

The museum aims to resurrect forgotten art forms from the 19th century

Stick to a belief/sentiment/decision

Bám chặt/kiên định với niềm tin/quyết định

My grandmother sticks to her belief that hard work builds character.

The manager sticks to his decision despite criticism.

She sticks to the sentiment that love should be honest.

Ethnic minority

Dân tộc thiểu số

Eg:Many ethnic minority women in northern Vietnam preserve their traditional weaving and brocade-making skills.

Government programs aim to improve education and healthcare access for ethnic minority communities in the Central Highlands

Vietnam is home to 54 ethnic groups, with ethnic minorities making up about 14% of the population

Craftsmanship

Tay nghề,kỹ nghệ tinh xảo

Eg:The temple stands as a testament to ancient Vietnamese craftsmanship.

His furniture shows fine craftsmanship — you can feel the love he puts into the wood.

Japanese pottery is admired worldwide for its delicate craftsmanship and cultural depth

Sand(v)

Chà nhám,mài nhẵn bề mặt bằng giấy nhám(sandpaper)

Eg:The artist fine-sanded the sculpture to achieve a silky finish.

He spent hours sanding down the rough edges of the chair

We had to sand the wooden floor to remove the old varnish.

finesse

Sự tinh tế,khéo tay,khéo léo

Eg:The sculpture demonstrates incredible artistic finesse.

She handled the delicate negotiation with finesse

Painting miniature models requires great finesse

Find solace in sth

tìm thấy sự an ủi,thanh thản/giảm bớt nỗi đau,stress qua điều gì

Eg:Many people find solace in reading novels after a tough day.

She found solace in prayer when she faced personal hardships

During stressful exams, students often find solace in short walks outside

Poor manners

Cách cư xử kém,thiếu lịch sự

Eg:My ex-boyfriend was addicted to smoking, and his bad manners only worsened the situation, so I decided to end the relationship because I could no longer tolerate it

Assimilate cultural essence

Tiếp thu/thấm nhuần/hòa nhập tinh hoa văn hóa

Eg:Studying abroad helped her assimilate the cultural essence of Europe while still maintaining her Vietnamese identity

Vietnamese cuisine assimilates the cultural essence of centuries of history, from royal dishes to folk traditions.

The architect assimilated cultural essence into his modern design by using traditional materials and patterns

Vietnamese mythology

Thần thoại Việt Nam

Eg:The movie blends Vietnamese mythology with contemporary storytelling, making ancient legends feel alive again

Schools should teach Vietnamese mythology so that children understand cultural roots and national identity.

Festivals like the Hùng Kings’ Temple Festival are deeply rooted in Vietnamese mythology.

Narrative inspiration

Nguồn cảm hứng kể chuyện

Eg:The brand’s advertising campaigns often take narrative inspiration from everyday Vietnamese life.

Her childhood memories became the narrative inspiration for her short-story collection

The writer draws narrative inspiration from Vietnamese mythology to create a fantasy world with a local soul.

Superstition

Mê tín dị đoan

Eg:Superstition prevented the community from seeking proper medical treatment.

The villagers were heavily influenced by superstition, blaming every illness on spirits.

Many people still believe in the superstition that breaking a mirror brings bad luck.

Black magic

Bùa ngải/Ma thuật hắc ám><white magic(ma thuật tốt,chữa bệnh, mang may mắn).

Eg:In the case in Lai Chau, the suspect believed the victim had used black magic to harm his children.

She went to a witch who claimed to have powers in black magic

The villagers believed he used black magic to curse his neighbors.

Ghostly figure/shape/light

Bóng dáng/hình dáng/ánh sáng mờ ảo

Eg:From the corner of my eye, I saw a ghostly shape moving, but it was just a curtain

A ghostly figure appeared in the old photograph, though no one remembered being there.

Guardian angel

Thiên thần hộ mệnh

Eg:Some people carry a small pendant as a reminder of their guardian angel.

She always felt her guardian angel was watching over her during difficult times.

Functioned according to a custom

Làm việc,hành động/vận hành theo tập quán,truyền thống/thói quen lâu đời.

Eg:The festival functioned according to a custom handed down from generation to generation.

In medieval villages, the town council functioned according to a custom that all disputes had to be settled publicly

Light incense

Thắp hương/đốt nhang

Eh:He lighted incense in front of the small altar, whispering his hopes for the future

During the ceremony, the elders lit incense as a gesture of respect and gratitude

Banquet

Tiệc chiêu đãi(cưới hỏi,lễ tốt nghiệp,trao giải)

Eg:Government officials attended a formal banquet with international delegates.

The wedding banquet lasted for three hours and included ten different dishes.

The company hosted a banquet to celebrate its 50th anniversary

Goshugi/gift money

Tiền mừng

Eg:give goshugi

Put money in a special envelope

slightly raised platform

Bục/khán đài được nâng lên 1 chút,cao hơn mặt sàn xung quanh

Eg:The teacher used a slightly raised platform in the classroom so students at the back could see the experiments.

The couple sat on a slightly raised platform so all the guests could see them clearly.

During the ceremony, the monks sat on a slightly raised platform facing the audience.

Take the surplus home

Mang phần thừa,dư(thức ăn, đồ vật, quà tặng…)về nhà.

Eg:My grandma always makes too much food, so we end up taking the surplus home every Sunday.

The charity event encouraged attendees to take the surplus home instead of letting it go to waste.

If you can’t finish the dish, you can take the surplus home in a box.

Name someone/sth after someone/sth

to give someone or something the same name as another person or thing

Eg:Paul was named after his grandfather

She told us about his brother, Apollo, born in 1969 and named for the US astronauts' mission to the moon.

The Angel of Death

Thần Chết,tử thần

Eg:When the war ended, survivors felt they had escaped the Angel of Death by inches

The doctor fought to save him, but in the end, the Angel of Death arrived too soon.

They named the baby after a relative who had passed away, believing it would protect the child from the Angel of Death.

Fortune-teller

Thầy bói/thầy xem số

Eg:In some cultures, a fortune-teller chooses a child’s name based on elements like fire or water.

The fortune-teller predicted that the baby would grow up to be strong and wise.

Many people visit fortune-tellers during New Year for luck and guidance.

Be dictated by tradition

Truyền thống chi phối/quyết định

Eg:Names in that community are dictated by tradition rather than personal preference.

The way we celebrate Lunar New Year is still largely dictated by tradition

In many families, the eldest son’s responsibilities are dictated by tradition.

Ingrained/deep-rooted culture

Văn hóa ăn sâu,khó thay đổi><Entrenched culture:văn hoá bám chặt, cố thủ

Eg:Changing an ingrained culture requires both policy reforms and shifts in public mindset

In some communities, an ingrained culture of gender roles still shapes people’s choices.

There is an ingrained culture of rote-learning in many schools, making creativity difficult to develop

Work of missionary

Hoạt động/công việc truyền giáo

Eg:The work of missionaries shaped the early education systems in many colonies.

She spent ten years in Africa doing the work of a missionary, teaching children and providing medical care.

It is the custom to do sth

Tập quán,thông lệ,thói quen lâu đời là làm…

Eg:In my hometown, it is the custom to visit ancestors’ graves before New Year Eve

In some villages, it is the custom to celebrate the harvest with a big feast.

In many Asian families, it is the custom to remove your shoes before entering the house.

Talk back (to someone)

Cãi lại 1 cách hỗn hào,thiếu lễ độ (với parents,teacher,adult,supervisor)

Eg:Kids these days talk back too easily because they see it on social media.

Stop talking back and listen for a minute.

The student got in trouble for talking back to the teacher.

A lost art

Nghệ thuật thất truyền=Forgotten craft=Vanishing skill

Eg:Handwritten communication is slowly becoming a lost art as digital devices dominate everyday life.

The lost art of craftsmanship reminds us of the value of patience and detail.

Face-to-face conversation feels like a lost art for many teenagers.

Exotic culture

Nền văn hóa lạ,độc đáo,xa lạ so với trải nghiệm quen thuộc của mình

Eg:The writer draws inspiration from exotic cultures to create fantasy worlds rich in symbolism and mythology.

The documentary explores the exotic culture of Amazon tribes, highlighting their rituals and connection with nature.

Many tourists travel to Southeast Asia to experience its exotic culture, from colorful festivals to traditional street food

Thai script

Bảng chữ cái Thái/hệ thống chữ viết Thái Lan

Eg:Seizing every moment outside regular school hours, she persistently teaches the Thai script to students - believing it is the most powerful way to preserve the soul of her people on their native land

Old temples often preserve inscriptions written in traditional Thai script.

I spent weeks learning the Thai script before my trip so I could read street signs and menus

remnant of language / culture / ancient civilization / tradition

Dấu tích còn lại của ngôn ngữ/văn hóa/nền văn minh cổ/truyền thống

Eg:Archaeologists found remnants of a stone road leading to the lost city

The village’s rituals are remnants of a culture that has survived centuries of change.

This song preserves remnants of the tribe’s original language.

Shaman

Thầy pháp,pháp sư(trung gian tâm linh trong nhiều tôn giáo và tín ngưỡng bản địa)

In some communities, shamans are chosen by calling, not by choice.

She believes her role as a shaman is to restore balance between humans and nature

The village turned to the shaman when modern medicine failed.

Rhetoric around sth

Cách người ta nói,diễn ngôn xoay quanh vấn đề

Eg:We need to rethink the rhetoric around aging.

The rhetoric around productivity makes rest feel like laziness.

The rhetoric around winter focuses on survival rather than appreciation

Water puppetry

Múa rối nước

Eg:Watching water puppetry feels like stepping back into a peaceful rural past.

Many tourists are fascinated by water puppetry performances in Hanoi

Water puppetry is one of the most unique traditional art forms of Vietnam

Proverb

Tục ngữ#Bromide:Lời sáo rỗng#Cliché:Câu nói dùng quá nhiều,từng hay nhưng bị mòn

Proverbs often reveal what a society values most, such as family, hard work, or respect for elders

Unlike empty bromides, proverbs are rooted in lived experience and collective wisdom

This proverb reflects the importance of perseverance in traditional societies

Stand/stick out like a sore thumb

Lạc quẻ,lệch tông toàn tập.

His rude behavior stood out like a sore thumb at the formal dinner.

His accent made him stand out like a sore thumb in the small town

Wearing heels to the beach made her stick out like a sore thumb.

Nursery rhyme

Bài đồng dao/vè/bài thơ thiếu nhi truyền thống

Exposure to nursery rhymes in early childhood supports later reading skills

Singing nursery rhymes before bedtime creates a comforting routine for children

Many nursery rhymes have been passed down orally for hundreds of years.

Antiquated

Lỗi thời,cổ hủ,không còn phù hợp với xã hội hiện đại.

While some perceive the Three Fundamental Bonds as antiquated, others argue that they provide moral stability in an era of excessive individualism.

His views on women in leadership are antiquated.

Using paper files in 2026? That’s honestly antiquated.

Woo-woo(adj)

Dựa trên niềm tin mơ hồ,tâm linh,huyền bí/không có cơ sở khoa học rõ ràng.

Crystal healing feels a little woo woo to me

I’m open to meditation, but I don’t like anything too woo woo.

This book sounds a bit woo woo, but some people swear it changed their lives.

Martyr

✝người tử đạo🔥Heretic:kẻ dị giáo

In medieval Europe, heretics were often persecuted

The church condemned him as a heretic.

Joan of Arc is often seen as a martyr.

Mahjong

麻将🀄mạt chược(người chơi nhặt và bỏ các quân bài:tiles đến khi tạo được tổ hợp thắng,chơi 4 người,người chơi rút và bỏ quân để tạo 4 bộ+1 cặp để thắng)

Playing mahjong with family is one of the small joys of life.

Many elderly people enjoy playing mahjong in the park.

Tourists sometimes learn mahjong when visiting China

Jade Emperor

玉皇大帝:Ngọc Hoàng

The Kitchen God reports each family’s behavior to the Jade Emperor before the Lunar New Year.

Many Chinese folk stories describe officials reporting to the Jade Emperor

According to legend, the Jade Emperor organized the race that determined the Chinese zodiac animals

Portent

điềm xấu/gở về 1 sự kiện sắp xảy ra

In Greek mythology, Queen Hecuba of Troy dreamed that she had given birth to a blazing firebrand, which she interpreted as a portent of destruction. Fearing for the fate of the city, she ordered that her newborn son, Paris, be abandoned in the forest

The dark clouds were a portent of a coming storm..

Her sudden coldness felt like a portent of the end of their relationship.

Upstage(v)

Chiếm spotlight,“lấn át” người khác

Good manners mean knowing when to step back instead of upstaging.

Don’t try to upstage your boss in front of clients.

Don’t upstage your friend on her birthday.

Set off/lit with/see firecracker

🎇🎆Bắn/sáng rực vớiPháo nổ trong lễ hội,Tết,các dịp ăn mừng

The streets were lit with firecrackers during the Lunar New Year festival.

People set off firecrackers during Lunar New Year to scare away evil spirits

Travelers in small towns are more likely to see firecrackers, since urban areas restrict them

Diaspora

Người kiều,kiều bào

Diaspora communities often act as cultural bridges between nations.

Social media helps the diaspora stay connected to their roots

Diaspora communities play a key role in cultural exchange.

Xenophobia

Bài ngoại

After the An Lushan Rebellion in 763, xenophobic attitudes began to take shape in the late Tang Dynasty and were later reinforced by the Song Dynasty to limit foreign influence.

Xenophobia can make immigrants feel isolated and unwelcome.

He experienced xenophobia when he first moved abroad

Cultural appropriation

Chiếm dụng văn hóa:lấy yếu tố từ nền văn hóa khác mà không hiểu,tôn trọng/dùng sai ngữ cảnh#Appreciation:học hỏi,tôn trọng🙏hiểu ý nghĩa văn hóa,có sự công nhận

It is important to distinguish between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation in a globalized world.

Using sacred Indigenous symbols for fashion without permission is considered cultural appropriation

Cultural appropriation is widely debated on social media today.

Spinning wheel

Guồng quay sợi/bánh xe kéo sợi

Because of her pride, Arachne insulted the goddess Athena and was cursed to become a spider, forever bound to her spinning wheel, weaving without end.

Life can feel like a spinning wheel—repetitive but necessary.

For Gandhi, the spinning wheel represented simplicity and self-discipline.

It's (all) Greek to me

Như vịt nghe sấm🦆⚡

Eg:He looked at the instructions like they were Greek to him.

She spoke so fast that it was Greek to me.

He tried to explain coding, but it was all Greek to me

April Fools' Day

🎭Ngày Cá tháng Tư (1/4)

Humor plays an important role in strengthening social bonds during events like April Fools' Day.

Don’t trust everything you hear on April Fools' Day.

Many brands post funny pranks on April Fools' Day