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祭拜 (jì bài) — to worship (by offering sacrifices, especially to ancestors or gods)

Definition

A formal, ritual verb for 'to worship' through offerings (incense, food) to ancestors or gods. Distinct from everyday 拜 bài (to bow / greet / pay a visit) — 祭拜 emphasizes the sacrificial ceremony, not the physical bow.

verb
to worship (by offering sacrifices, especially to ancestors or gods)

Examples

  • 祭拜。
    Qīng míng jié hěn duō rén qù mù dì jì bài zǔ xiān.
    Many people go to cemeteries to worship their ancestors during Qingming Festival.
  • ，祭拜。
    Sì miào lǐ, xìn tú men zhèng zài jì bài shén líng.
    In the temple, believers are worshipping the deities.
  • 祭拜。
    Zhè ge yí shì xū yào zhǔn bèi xiāng hé shuǐ guǒ lái jì bài.
    This ceremony requires preparing incense and fruit for worship.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

祭jìworship/sacrifice
拜bàiworship/bow

'祭' and '拜' both express acts of worship, so together they mean to worship.

Characters in this word

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

祭 shows 又 (hand) offering 肉 (meat) at 示 (altar/ceremony).

Open 祭 →

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 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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