拜神 (bài shén) — to worship the gods (in Chinese folk religion)

Definition

Worship gods or deities in Chinese folk religion, typically at a temple. Distinct from 拜佛 (Buddhist worship) and 祈祷 (general prayer).

verb
to worship the gods (in Chinese folk religion)

Examples

  • 拜神。
    Wǒ men měi nián chūn jié dōu qù miào lǐ bài shén.
    We go to the temple to worship the gods every Spring Festival.
  • ，。
    Tā bài le yí cì shén, xī wàng kǎo shì shùn lì.
    He worshipped the gods once, hoping for a smooth exam.
  • 拜神。
    Hěn duō lǎo rén měi tiān dōu huì bài shén.
    Many elderly people worship the gods every day.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

拜bàiworship
神shéngod

拜 is the act of worship, and 神 is the god being worshipped.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

拜 combines 扌 (hand, written fully as 手) with 𠦪 (herbs), showing a hand holding herbs as a gift.

Open 拜 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
示示shìgod; deity
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn神shén
Same sound today

The older form 申 drew lightning, which the ancients regarded as divine; 神 adds 示 (god/deity) to mark that meaning.

Open 神 →

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