bảy bảy bốn chín ngày

Vietnamese

Etymology

From Chinese 七七日 (thất thất nhật, “seven days times seven”) and 四十九日 (tứ thập cửu nhật, “forty-nine days”). "Seven" is as in "7 po" (see also ba hồn bảy vía) and "7 days of the week". Each of the three "hun" leaves the body after each of the next 3 years, while each of the seven "po" leaves after every 7 days, which results in a larger memorial offering after 49 days and the ultimate end of mourning after 3 years.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ʔɓaj˧˩ ʔɓaj˧˩ ʔɓon˧˦ t͡ɕin˧˦ ŋaj˨˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʔɓaj˧˨ ʔɓaj˧˨ ʔɓoŋ˦˧˥ t͡ɕin˦˧˥ ŋaj˦˩]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [ʔɓa(ː)j˨˩˦ ʔɓa(ː)j˨˩˦ ʔɓoŋ˦˥ cɨn˦˥ ŋa(ː)j˨˩]

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Noun

bảy bảy bốn chín ngày

1. (religion, Buddhism) 49 days after someone's death, during which their souls are still wandering or need releasing, and regular food offerings are required