祭献 (jì xiàn) — to sacrifice (as a religious or ritual offering)

Definition

A formal verb for offering something (often an animal or food) to gods or ancestors as part of a ritual. Common in historical and religious contexts, not everyday speech.

verb
to sacrifice (as a religious or ritual offering)

Examples

  • 祭献。
    Gǔ dài rén yòng niú yáng jì xiàn shén líng.
    Ancient people sacrificed cattle and sheep to the gods.
  • 祭献。
    Tā men měi nián dōu huì jǔ xíng jì xiàn yí shì.
    They hold a sacrifice ceremony every year.
  • 祭献。
    Zhè zuò miào lǐ céng jīng jì xiàn guò hěn duō shēng chù.
    Many livestock were once sacrificed in this temple.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

祭jìsacrifice
献xiànoffer

“祭” (sacrifice) and “献” (offer) combine to mean to sacrifice as an offering.

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 獻; 献 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犬犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
鬳
鬳yàn獻xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 獻 combines 鬳, which gives the sound, with 犬, a dog. The simplified 献 is a later shorthand.

Open 献 →

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